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Sun Life Rising Star Awards Program Gives $165,000 in Grants and Scholarships to Nonprofit Organizations and High School Seniors in the San Diego Area

Each nonprofit organization will receive a $50,000 grant along with training, materials and the curriculum necessary to develop and provide financial education for the youth in its program. Additionally, each student received a $5,000 scholarship to help finance a post-secondary education, and were presented with their awards during surprise check presentations today.

Following is a list of the Sun Life Rising Star Awards recipients:

    --  Barrio Logan College Institute works to promote the pursuit of high
        education for underrepresented students interested in college through
        after-school programs.
        --  Student winner: Priscilla Elizalde, Kearny High School
    --  Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego has been serving youth for more
        than 65 years and provides mentoring, career exploration, tutoring,
        recreation, and other services through their teen center.
        --  Student winner: Eric Jackson, Kearny High School
    --  Home Start, Inc. is focused on providing curriculum-based financial
        education to low-income families and individuals.
        --  Student winner: Latrice Brown, San Diego School of Creative and
            Performing Arts

In conjunction with Sun Life Financial's official sponsorship of the 2010 Cirque du Soleil Big Top and Arena Touring Shows, winners will have the opportunity to attend a Cirque du Soleil performance. On Friday, March 19 each organization and student will be recognized at an award ceremony prior to the Cirque du Soleil show at the Joe Lewis arena.

An independent panel of judges comprised of local San Diego community leaders selected the winning organizations.

San Diego is the one of six cities that the program will visit in 2010. The awards program will give away a total of $1,000,000 in grants and scholarships; all winning organizations will automatically be considered for the National Sun Life Rising Star Award - an additional $50,000 grant to further their mission. As well, winning students are invited to enter an essay competition where one student will be selected as the National Sun Life Rising Star award winner and receive a scholarship worth up to $50,000 payable over four years to the educational institution of their choice. The national award winners will be announced in the fall of 2010.

For more information on the Sun Life Rising Star Awards, please visit www.sunliferisingstar.com .

About Sun Life Financial

Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2009, the Sun Life Financial Group of companies had total assets under management of US $411.2 billion.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippines (PSE) stock exchanges under ticker symbol SLF. Visit Sun Life Financial's website at www.sunlife.com/us.

    Media Contact:
    Diane Johnson
    Phone: 610-212-0381
    Email: djohnson@tierneyagency.com

SOURCE Sun Life Financial