Sun Life and DentaQuest Donate $100,000 to RIZE Massachusetts

DentaQuest President Steve Pollock cohosted recent 5-year anniversary breakfast recognizing the organization’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis
Sun Life U.S. and DentaQuest, part of Sun Life U.S., have donated $100,000 to RIZE Massachusetts, an independent nonprofit foundation solely dedicated to funding and creating solutions to end the opioid crisis.
On March 2, a breakfast was held in recognition of the dedication, support and progress the organization has made in the Bay state. RIZE’s “Five Years of Fighting Together to End the Opioid Crisis” Anniversary Breakfast brought state legislators, including Governor Maura Healey, House Ways & Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, together with RIZE supporters, donors, and leaders from Massachusetts-based companies to spotlight the ongoing and evolving nature of the crisis.
DentaQuest President and RIZE Board Chair Steve Pollock served as co-host of the event. “It was an honor to help spotlight the important work RIZE is accomplishing and recognize the support our state’s leadership has provided,” said Pollock. “Governor Healey not only spoke at last week’s breakfast, she participated in our inaugural event five years ago when she served as Attorney General, and we’re grateful for her ongoing support.”
According to research from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, opioid-related overdose deaths increased by 9.4% in 2021, taking an average of six lives per day, every day.
“We must ensure ongoing funding and support for effective solutions to combat this terrible disease,” continued Pollock. “DentaQuest and Sun Life support RIZE because we share a commitment to advancing health equity, which starts by expanding access to care and benefits, particularly for underserved populations. We’ve seen firsthand how the opioid epidemic is inextricably linked to oral health. A healthy smile may seem trivial, but for those in treatment it can provide the confidence and courage to seek employment, reengage with friends and family and make the first step toward a healthier future. I am excited for Sun Life and DentaQuest to leverage our combined power and help more people access the dental care, mental health support and health services they need to live healthier lives.”
DentaQuest has supported RIZE since 2018, when Pollock joined the Board. RIZE is committed to achieving zero stigma and zero deaths related to opioid use disorder by investing in meaningful solutions and employing broad perspectives that will save lives, reduce harm and end the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts.
“RIZE is grateful to receive this incredible gift from Sun Life and DentaQuest, which will help further our mission to end the overdose crisis in Massachusetts and improve quality of life for people with substance use disorders,” said Julie Burns, president and CEO of RIZE Massachusetts Foundation. “These organizations have made a commitment to supporting the health and well-being of individuals and families across a wide range of needs and issues they face. This contribution to RIZE reflects a keen knowledge that overall health includes mental health and oral health, as well as the intersection of social factors that influence the trajectory of a person’s life. We are honored that Sun Life has joined us in the fight to end this crisis in our state and look forward to the work that has been made possible by this investment.”
Sun Life and DentaQuest support many initiatives nationwide that enable and empower people to live healthier lives, with a focus on providing access to the care and coverage they need. Dental-focused partnerships include America’s Toothfairy and TeamSmile, which provide oral health education and preventive care for children, as well as Missions of Mercy, which offers dental care to those who do not have access to a local dentist. Partnerships to support food equity, nutrition, and diabetes include the American Diabetes Association, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City and the YMCA of Greater Boston. Mental health partnerships include support for community outreach programs with the Black Alliance for Mental Health and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.