John Hancock Sponsors Legendary Boston Marathon Team Hoyt
Posted Wednesday, 16 April, 2008
(BOSTON, April 14, 2008) - John Hancock has added another dimension to its Marathon activities by sponsoring Team Hoyt. For over 30 years, Dick Hoyt has pushed or pulled his disabled son Rick through the finish lines of 25 Boston Marathons and nearly 1,000 athletic events.
Hancock's sponsorship will help the Hoyts spread their message of determination and motivation to others throughout the year. Beyond their athletic achievements, Dick and his son Rick, who is a quadriplegic and has cerebral palsy, work tirelessly to educate the public about the challenges disabled people face every day.
"We have a great deal of admiration for the Hoyts," said Jim Boyle, president of John Hancock's insurance group. "This is the partnership of two Boston Marathon institutions that are committed to the race and to the best of individual endurance and motivation."
Boyle added that through the agreement, John Hancock will produce a short motivational video that features the Hoyts and their work. The video will be showcased at various John Hancock internal and distribution events.
"The Hoyt's message -that "can't" is not part of their vocabulary, dovetails nicely with Hancock's 'the future is yours' messaging," said Boyle. "We're both believers in creating your own destiny - and we're glad ours are coming together."
To kick off the partnership, John Hancock has arranged for the Hoyts to throw out the first pitch at the Red Sox game on the Saturday evening prior to the race. In addition, Team Hoyt will carry the John Hancock logo on their competition attire and equipment.
"It's great to receive support from an organization as committed to Boston as Hancock," said Dick Hoyt. "Rick and I appreciate the ability to focus on doing what we do, and I think this will be great for all involved."
About John Hancock and Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily through John Hancock in the United States, the Company 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 Cdn$396 billion (US$401 billion) as at December 31, 2007.
Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '0945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.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 whole life, term life, variable life, and universal life insurance, as well as college savings products, fixed and variable annuities, long-term care insurance, mutual funds and various forms of business insurance.
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