Sunlife and Kansas City Royals Team Up to Promote Health Through Royal Moves Program

Sunlife and Kansas City Royals' Royal Moves Program

Sunlife U.S. and the Kansas City Royals have once again partnered to deliver an impactful four-week wellness program known as Royal Moves. This initiative, tailored for children, aims to promote health and fitness by merging elements of baseball and softball with valuable lessons on everyday wellness. The primary goal is to foster healthy habits that are intended to last beyond just the field, eventually finding their way into the homes and communities of the participating students.

In an assessment of this year’s program, it was revealed that Royal Moves successfully engaged 360 students from four elementary schools in the Kansas City Public Schools district—George Washington Carver, George Melcher, Phillis Wheatley, and Garfield. The program kicked off with a spirited event on September 25 during a Royals game against the Cleveland team, marking the beginning of a four-week sequence filled with fitness-focused activities and valuable health lessons.

Each week, the Royal Moves program paired core wellness themes with physical skills training, emphasizing principles such as nutrition, hydration, physical activity, and mindfulness. The lessons included practical applications: agility and base running were tied to fitness, while throwing and caring for one's body were connected to the importance of rest. Furthermore, participants were encouraged to engage in mindfulness exercises, prompting them to maintain journals that tracked their physical activity, hydration, nutritional choices, and sleep patterns, aiming for a target of 60 active minutes every day.

Ryan Bohrer, vice president of Commercial Dental and Vision at Sunlife U.S., commented on the significance of the program: “Helping kids discover the fun in being active is essential for instilling lifelong healthy habits. Our collaboration with the Royals and our connection with the Kansas City community allow us to make health and wellness more accessible to those who need it most.”

The culmination of the program took place on October 24 with a Family Field Day at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy. This exciting event welcomed students, teachers, and families for a day filled with engaging activities like whiffle ball and a pumpkin patch experience. Participants also enjoyed a special reading of ‘Ruby Jean’s Garden’ by Chris Goode, the founder of Ruby Jean’s Juicery.

Donease Smith, executive director at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy, expressed the value of the Royal Moves program: “This initiative provides a meaningful way for us to engage with students and showcase how small, everyday choices can positively affect their health and wellbeing. Royal Moves makes these lessons tangible and aids in fostering family and community growth.”

Sunlife has been working in partnership with the Royals since 2017, focusing on initiatives that extend youth fitness opportunities and enhance community health. The partnership is set to continue through the end of the 2030 baseball season. During this year's partnership, Sunlife also inaugurated the “Every Single Smile” initiative, contributing $50 to TeamSmile for each single that the Royals hit during the regular season, ultimately reaching a remarkable total of $50,000. This initiative is aimed at broadening access to dental care for underserved youth in Kansas City.

For anyone interested in learning more about Sunlife's community engagement efforts, detailed information is available at their official website.

About Sunlife

Sunlife is a prominent international financial services company, specializing in asset management, wealth management, insurance, and health solutions for both individuals and institutional clients. With a global presence in markets including Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and many more, Sunlife continues to offer a comprehensive suite of services supporting clients' diverse needs. As of September 30, 2026, Sunlife maintained total assets under management amounting to C$1.68 trillion.

For further insights into Sunlife's initiatives and offerings, please visit their website.

About The Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team that has made a significant impact since their establishment in 1969 by founder Ewing Kauffman. Under the current ownership led by Chairman and CEO John Sherman, the team has awarded four American League pennants and two World Series Championships, solidifying their legacy in MLB history. The Royals' commitment to philanthropy has been recognized, as they were awarded the Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence in 2021.