Outreach Programs

John Hancock's partnership with English High School is the oldest business-school partnership in Boston. Providing summer internships for students from English High School is an integral part of John Hancock's commitment to the Boston community.

In 2007, 35 English High School students worked as full-time office assistants in departments throughout John Hancock including Human Resources, Facilities, Mutual Funds, Life Insurance, Annuities and Guaranteed Structured Financial Products. The English High School internships are an opportunity to provide professional work experience and development for Boston Public High School students. Students gain experience in performing general office clerical duties and gain exposure to professional work atmosphere.

In addition, students participate in weekly life skills workshops held at John Hancock Student Village at the Agganis Arena at Boston University. The workshops include topics on business etiquette, presentation skills, personal finances and business writing.  

In 1994, John Hancock partnered with the Boston Police Department in an effort to curb rising youth violence. The result was Summer of Opportunity, a comprehensive job program for at-risk inner-city youths that steers them toward productive living and education.

Since its inception more than 500 Boston youths have taken part in the program which consists of an intensive 40 hour per week, six-week summer program at John Hancock followed by a 46-week internship and after-school leadership workshops. Students are also provided with a John Hancock mentor to support their learning.

This innovative program has been cited by the former United States Attorney General, the Mayor of Boston and Boston's Commissioner of Police as a major contributing factor of youth crime rate reduction in Boston.

John Hancock is proud to create the essay competition, The Promise of America: Explore*Dream*Discover which was piloted in the Boston Public Schools in the spring of 2007. In 2008, the competition was expanded to Detroit, which was the first port of entry into the United States by our parent company, Manulife Financial Corporation. This educational endeavor continues the company's commitment of supporting our youth in the public schools.

Students in the public high schools in the city where the competition is held will be nominated to write an essay examining the contributions made by John Hancock and indicate how this founding father's work contributions affect us today.

In addition, students are asked to write about how  John Hancock's legacy encourages them to build a brighter future by getting involved in their own communities.  This endeavor leverages the company's sponsorship of the 4th of July Celebration at Foundation for National Archives in Washington D.C. as well as National Archives across the country.

To celebrate the merger between Manulife and John Hancock, employees helped build five homes with Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Canada and Boston. This is the largest global cross-border partnership with Habitat for Humanity. As part of this cross-border initiative, 250 John Hancock volunteers contributed nearly 2,000 volunteer hours while building a home at Blue Hill Place in Boston.

John Hancock continues its support of Habitat for Humanity with a newly developed program, Boston Women Build.  The Vice President of Community Relations led a group of 35 Boston women leaders, including first lady of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and first lady of the City of Boston, to launch the build of The Boston House, a Habitat for Humanity home in New Orleans. In 2007-2008, 500 Women & Youth Build continues the mission here in Boston in collaboration with YouthBuild Boston.

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Given John Hancock's longstanding work in rebuilding communities, the company has partnered with YouthBuild Boston to create 500 Women & Youth Build Boston. YouthBuild Boston's work aligns well with John Hancock's mission of creating jobs for young people and developing positive programming for youth.

This initiative links 500 Boston professionals and YouthBuild trainees in mentoring relationships that will allow these women to offer "sweat equity" in more than 50 construction and rehabilitation project throughout our city.

Given the high level of commitment by the leadership of John Hancock Funds, a number of builds have taken place to assist in the reconstruction of New Orleans. Hancock builds consisted of over 70 Funds employees from across the country coming together rebuild homes in New Orleans Musician's Village, a Habitat for Humanity build created by natives Harry Connick, Jr. and Bransford Marsalis. This community service project was incorporated into Funds Sales Meetings dedicating several days to a community most devasted by Hurricane Katrina.

Expanding on John Hancock's commitment to rebuilding communities through Habitat for Humanity, 50 Wirehouse Channel employees gathered in Chicago to participate in a community service initiative.  This community service project was incorporated into John Hancock Funds Sales Meeting further strengthening our commitment to the communities in which we live and work. 

John Hancock utilizes the venue of the Boston Marathon to teach third-grade students about the history of this international race and the distinctive fact that Kenyans have dominated the course for the past 17 years. Volunteers, including several executive managers, have educated more than 380 Boston youths on subjects ranging from Kenyan culture, tribes, Swahili language, geography as well as the history of this world-class race that takes place in Boston. 

The program is held at the African Tropical Forest exhibit in Boston's community zoo and includes a visit from Boston Marathon Kenyan champions as well as VIP seating at the finish line on race day.

Created by a John Hancock actuary, the Financial Wizard Program was developed to get students and teachers interested and excited about math. For more than 17 years, volunteers have worked with classroom teachers to deliver a set of lessons in basic math concepts, money concepts and financial markets. The lesson plans, for grades two through five, are activity based and encourage fun and interactive participation in the classroom. 

This innovative program has reached more than 2,400 Boston youths and has earned recognition from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Department of Education and the Mayor of Boston. 

More than 1,500 runners participated in the 2007 Ollie Road Race, the John Hancock sponsored event benefiting the South Boston Neighborhood House. This five mile road race brings together the community to support the South Boston Neighborhood House and its mission to support and preserve neighborhood and family life in South Boston. Approximately 75 John Hancock volunteers staffed the course and also ran as part of the corporate team. 

During the 2007 holiday season, over 300 John Hancock volunteers participated in activities that impacted Boston youth and their families.  John DesPrez, President and CEO, was joined by 40 John Hancock volunteers and 70 Boston Public School students for a special holiday reading of The John Hancock Club.  Students had the opportunity to meet the historical character John Hancock, learn more about the story and receive an autographed copy of the book. 

Approximately 60 Long Term Care associates volunteered at the Red Cross Food Pantry, sorting and distributing groceries to Boston families.  In addition, John Hancock employees collected more than 160 gifts in a toy drive for patients at Boston Children's Hospital.  Annuities championed the Greater Boston Food Bank with 45 employees sorting food to be distributed to Boston's Shelters. 

For one week, 30 volunteers served lunch to homeless veterans at the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans.  Four families from the South Boston Neighborhood House were provided with toys and clothing for a total of 15 children. These activities helped to brighten the holiday season for so many.

John Hancock responded to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina with a multi-pronged community effort to assist relief efforts. On behalf of all John Hancock and Manulife employees, the company provided $1.3 million through in-kind gifts and financial support to assist Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Financial support of $300,000 consisted of a grant to the American Red Cross, employee donations made to relief efforts as well as company match. A donation of $1 million worth of canned food products was also directed to affected areas through the company's subsidiary, Signature Fruit. 

Within a week of Hurricane Katrina, John Hancock organized a blood drive to benefit the American Red Cross and several collections of items donated to assist victims in the Gulf Coast and those families who relocated to Boston.