Kansas City, Mo. – September 25, 2026 -- Sun Life U.S. and the Kansas City Royals Foundation have completed the first "Every Single Smile" campaign, raising $50,000 to expand dental care access for underserved youth in Kansas City through nonprofit TeamSmile.
Every Royals single triggered a donation toward the season-long fundraising goal
The campaign converted a core baseball statistic into a philanthropic mechanism, with each single hit by the Royals generating a contribution from Sun Life and the Kansas City Royals Foundation over the course of the season.
Funds will finance a new December dental clinic and expand preventive care access
The $50,000 will support an additional TeamSmile dental clinic in Kansas City this December and strengthen the Dental Home Project, which links underserved youth with local dentists for ongoing preventive care relationships.
Campaign builds on a partnership Sun Life renewed through 2030
Sun Life U.S. has partnered with the Royals since 2017, extending the relationship through the 2030 season last year. The new initiative expands on the organizations' prior "Strike Out Diabetes" fundraiser, adding oral health to their community wellness focus.
Todd Gray, DDS, Chief Dental Officer at Sun Life U.S. and a TeamSmile board member, said the initiative connects a popular pastime to improved dental access, noting that early intervention increases the likelihood children maintain oral health into adulthood.
Sun Life extends TeamSmile sponsorships across multiple U.S. cities
Beyond Kansas City, Sun Life sponsors TeamSmile events in several other cities and holds sports partnerships with the Boston Celtics and Maine Celtics. Drew Fuemmeler, vice president of Corporate Partnerships for the Royals, credited fan engagement and Sun Life's commitment for the campaign's outcome.