John Hancock Hosts Marathon Community Event for Boston Public High School Track Athletes Featuring Elite Marathoners

BOSTON, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Marathon Principal Sponsor John Hancock Financial today partnered with the Boston Scholar Athletes program (BSA) and the City of Boston to present Scholars and Stars-World Class Athletes Inspiring Teen Achievers track event at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center.  The initiative brought more than 150 student-athletes from Boston public high school track teams to train with world-class marathoners, including past champions, an Olympian and top American athletes. 

"John Hancock is excited to leverage our Boston Marathon sponsorship to connect our elite athletes with Boston student-athletes," said James D. Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Government, Public & Community Relations. "We're especially proud to partner with the Boston Scholar Athletes program & the Boston Public Schools to help the future stars of our City shine on the track and in the classroom."

Following a brief speaking program featuring Mayor Thomas M. Menino, John Fish, Chairman and CEO of Suffolk Construction and Founder of the Boston Scholar Athletes program and Jim Gallagher, Executive Vice President of John Hancock Financial, students participated in an interactive track clinic, with four different stations, facilitated by John Hancock's elite athletes, Boston Public School coaches, and employee volunteers from the John Hancock Employee Marathon Program running in the 2012 race.  Specifically, the stations were:

• Strides/Running Formation conducted by defending Boston Marathon men's and women's champions Geoffrey Mutai and Caroline Kilel
• Plyometrics led by Desiree Davila, USA 2012 Olympics Team member, second in last year's Boston Marathon women's race with fastest American women's time ever
• Dynamic Drills presented by 4-time Boston Marathon winner Bill Rodgers
• Core Training with Greg Meyer, the last American men's winner at Boston

Said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, "I commend John Hancock and the Boston Scholar Athletes Program for providing this unique opportunity to Boston high school students.  The elite marathon champions provided inspired instruction that will help the students run faster – but more importantly help the students understand the importance of setting goals, planning, and taking care of the whole person. These messages of good health and well-being will go a long way on the track and in the classroom."

"At the Boston Scholar Athletes program, we engage kids that are involved in athletics to support their academic achievement," said John Fish, founder, Boston Scholar Athletes program, and Chairman and CEO of Suffolk Construction. "By connecting our student-athletes with these world class athletes, I'm confident this program will make a huge impression in their lives for a long time to come."  

In addition to Scholars and Stars, John Hancock conducts many community initiatives in conjunction with the Marathon, including the Adopt-a-Marathoner program at the Elmwood Elementary School in Hopkinton, and the John Hancock Boston Marathon Non-Profit Program, which in 2011, raised more than $5.3 million for local community organizations.

About the Boston Scholar Athletes program
The Boston Scholar Athletes program is a non profit organization designed to support academic achievement through athletics in 19 Boston Public High Schools. Now in its third year, the BSA is a collaboration with Mayor Menino, Boston Public Schools Superintendent Carol J. Johnson, and Suffolk Construction's CEO, John Fish. The BSA currently supports more than 3,900 scholar-athletes and 157 athletic teams in Boston Public High Schools.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation
John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. In 2012, John Hancock celebrates 150 years of serving clients across the United States, while Manulife celebrates its 125^th anniversary. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, Manulife Financial Corporation offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$500 billion (US$491 billion) as at December 31, 2011. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at manulife.com.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad range of financial products and services, including life insurance, annuities, fixed products, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com, and on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

For more info visit John Hancock's Boston Marathon site www.johnhancock.com/bostonmarathon/index.html or on Twitter @jhboston26.

SOURCE John Hancock Financial