Manulife Financial : John Hancock Announces over $1M in MLK Summer Scholar Grants to 67 local Non-Profit Partners

The 9th annual summer jobs program to provide more than 620 summer jobs to Boston teens & support local community capacity for programming #BostonWorks

Video featuring program participants created to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Boston- On the anniversary of what would have been Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 87 birthday, John Hancock's MLK Summer Scholars program announced this year's non-profit partner grants for its 9 year, and renewed its focus on Dr. King's inspiring legacy.

Believed to be the largest, most comprehensive, corporate-based summer jobs program of its kind in the nation, MLK Summer Scholars, called Boston Summer Scholars in its first year, has funded over five thousand jobs since its inception in 2008. John Hancock manages the program in close partnership with The City of Boston, The Boston Globe, Boston University, and Partners HealthCare, with additional generous support from The Ad Club of Boston.

'Year after year, John Hancock's MLK Summer Scholars Program continues to answer the call to take the lead in providing our City youth with meaningful opportunities,' said Mayor Martin Walsh. 'Boston's business and community leaders who understand the need for hands-on experiences make a difference in how these young scholars view the world. I am thankful for the collaborative efforts of John Hancock, The Boston Globe, Partners HealthCare, Boston University and The Ad Club of Boston to shape the future of Boston in this way.'

Through the annual million-dollar-plus program, Boston high school students spend the summer working at non-profit agencies across the city, gaining valuable real-work skills and engaging on issues that affect their community. Non-profits receive funding for each Scholar position awarded to enable the organizations to offer 7 weeks of paid summer employment to Boston youth. This year, John Hancock increased the grants to $1,750 per Scholar to reflect the minimum wage increase of $10 per hour. Sixty-seven non-profits throughout the city, addressing a myriad of important community issues, were selected to participate in 2016. (See below for full list.)

'The goal of this program is to help Boston teens again meaningful work experience, and develop the skills they need to be college and career ready,' said Thomas Crohan, assistant vice president and counsel, John Hancock Government Relations & Corporate Responsibility. 'We also hope the Scholars gain a deeper appreciation of Dr. King's inspiring legacy and feel empowered to become active, engaged citizens in our communities.'

Not for profit organizations receiving MLK Summer Scholars grants for 2016 are: Artists For Humanity, Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, BCYF Menino Community Center, Bikes Not Bombs, Boston Ballet, Boston Dance Alliance Inc, Boston Debate League, Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Boston Partners in Education, Boston Police Department, Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras Inc., Boys and Girls Club - Dorchester, Boys and Girls Club - Mattapan, Boys and Girls Club - Roxbury, Boys and Girls Club - West End House, Businesses United In Investing Lending And Development, Camp Harbor View Foundation, Caribbean Youth Club, Catholic Charities of Greater Boston, Codman Square Health Center, College Bound Dorchester, Community Rowing Inc., Courageous Sailing Center for Youth Inc., Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dimock Center, Families for Justice as Healing, Federation For Children With Special Needs Inc, Foundation For Boston Centers For Youth & Families Inc., Freedom House, Future Chefs, Generation Citizen, Handel and Haydn Society, Hyde Square Task Force Inc., Inquilinos Boricuas En Accion, Invest In Girls, Leap Self-Defense Inc., Level Ground, Madison Park Development Corporation, Mass Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health, MetroLacrosse, MissionSAFE, Museum of African American History, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, Neighborhood House Charter School, Partners for Youth with Disabilities, Phillips Brook House Association Incorporated, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, Sociedad Latina, South Boston Community Health Center, South Boston Neighborhood House Inc., South End Technology Center, Sportsmen's Tennis and Enrichment Center, St Peter Academy Inc., St. Mary's Center for Women and Children, Student Athletes Rising, Summer Search, The Boston Harbor Association, The Center for Teen Empowerment, The Wang Center For The Performing Arts Inc., University of Massachusetts Foundation Inc., Upham's Corner Community Center, Whittier Street Health Center, Youth Design Inc., Youth Enrichment Services Inc., YouthBuild Boston, ZUMIX

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife
John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Operating as Manulife in Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, our group of companies offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Assets under management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were C$888 billion (US$663 billion) as at September 30, 2015. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife 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 and administers a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities,investments, 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.

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