WISE, VA., December 16, 2025 – The Health Wagon has been selected as a 2025 Health Access Hero Award and grant recipient by Sun Life U.S. and DentaQuest. The $50,000 grant will support an integrated care initiative to help locals who have diabetes gain access to oral healthcare, including preventive screenings and individualized education. The annual Health Access Hero Awards recognize nonprofits and individual change-makers working to broaden access to health services for communities in need.
Created more than 40 years ago, The Health Wagon ensures Southwest Virginia residents have access to integrated medical care with both mobile and stationary clinics throughout the Appalachian Mountains. The Health Wagon served more than 7,000 patients in 2024 across five mobile health units, three stationary clinic sites, a dental clinic, a vision clinic and a pharmacy.
“Southwest Virginia has one of the most vulnerable populations in the nation, and we are all about removing barriers to care. Being able to bring access to oral healthcare? That is like icing on the cake for our diabetic patients,” said CEO and President Dr. Teresa Owens Tyson. “Thanks to the Sun Life Health Access grant, we can profoundly impact these patients’ lives and save lives, which is what the Health Wagon is all about, and I know that’s what Sun Life is also all about. There is just so much synergy here for truly integrated care, and we are profoundly grateful for this astounding award.”
Healthcare access is an ongoing issue across America, and grassroots efforts can drive meaningful results within communities. From diabetes to oral health, the Health Access Hero Awards raise awareness about the work of people and programs around the country that are charting new ways to overcome longstanding healthcare challenges.
Sun Life and DentaQuest are committed to broadening access to care through philanthropic initiatives that can have large-scale impact at local levels. The Health Wagon is a perfect example of a replicable means to addressing access challenges in communities with high incidence of diabetes,” said David Healy, president, Sun Life U.S. “Over the years, we have had the privilege of supporting many incredible programs and witnessing the meaningful results achieved in their communities. To Health Wagon, thank you for the opportunity to help make your impact even stronger and move the needle toward more integrated access to care for all.
There are two tracks to the Health Access Hero Awards: grants to fund health and wellness programs in community organizations, and recognition of individuals who have made a significant impact on health access in their communities. Individual Heroes also receive a $10,000 donation to the charity of their choice. The Health Access Hero Awards have provided more than $3.5 million in grants and recognized more than 130 individuals across the country.
Read more about the Health Wagon and the 2025 Health Access Hero awards, including all the recipients, at https://www.dentaquest.com/en/about-us/health-access-heroes/2025-heroes/the-health-wagon.
ABOUT DENTAQUEST
Sun Life U.S. Dental, which includes DentaQuest, is dedicated to improving the oral health of all through purpose-driven, outcomes-based solutions. We make dental benefits better for everyone through Preventistry® – an inclusive approach centered on preventive, quality care, expanded access and solutions built on valued relationships across the health care ecosystem. We manage dental and vision benefits for approximately 35 million Americans. For 30 years, we have delivered cost-effective benefit plans and services for employer groups, individuals, health plans, and government-sponsored dental programs. We are the largest Medicaid and CHIP dental benefits administrator in the U.S., by membership. We also support direct patient care through an expanding network of approximately 75 dental practices in underserved communities across the United States. Learn more about Sun Life U.S. Dental at Sunlife.com/dental and DentaQuest.com.
ABOUT SUN LIFE
Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2025, Sun Life had total assets under management of C$1.62 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping approximately 50 million Americans access the care and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S. offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. Sun Life employs more than 8,300 people in the U.S., including associates in our partner dental practices and affiliated companies in asset management. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except in New York, where policies are issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, Mich.). For more information visit our website and newsroom.
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