John Hancock and Boston Marathon
celebrate 31st year of partnership
2016 marks the 31st year of John Hancock’s landmark sponsorship of the legendary Boston Marathon. John Hancock’s continued support of the Boston Athletic Association, which has directed the race since 1897, ensures the stability of the world’s oldest annual marathon.
Reaching out to the community
Whenever John Hancock sponsors a major event like the Marathon, it is important for the community to benefit as well. John Hancock sponsors many community initiatives in coordination with the Marathon each year including the John Hancock Boston Marathon Non-Profit Program, Scholars & Stars in Hopkinton, and Scholars & Stars in Boston.
The Non-Profit Program offers organizations the opportunity to secure invitational entries into the race. These entries provide a significant fundraising opportunity and important exposure for these non-profits. In 2015 over 1,000 John Hancock-sponsored non-profit runners, including 175 John Hancock and Manulife employees, raised $10.6 million for 180 Greater Boston charities and Pathways to Education Canada. Over the past 30 years, the official B.A.A. and John Hancock Non-Profit Programs have combined to raise more than $234 million for community organizations.
The Scholars & Stars in Hopkinton, now in its 24th year, brings John Hancock’s elite Kenyan runners together with Hopkinton elementary students for a pre-race pep rally in the historic town where the Marathon begins. Students study the culture of their running friends throughout the year and are introduced to the athletes during race week.
The Scholars & Stars in Boston is a track event that brings former Boston Marathon champions and elite athletes together with Boston high school scholar-athletes for running clinics and a citywide Friendship Relay. Boston Marathon champions Bill Rodgers, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Greg Meyer, Wesley Korir, Sharon Cherop, and Caroline Kilel have participated, as have U.S. elites Desiree Davila Linden, Fernando Cabada, and Serena Burla. The event takes place at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center during race week and includes 300 – 400 high school students, John Hancock employee-volunteers, representatives from the Boston Scholar Athlete Program, and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh.
Helping to keep the race running
As principal sponsor, John Hancock has provided substantial financial resources, including the first-ever prize money in 1986, and has continued that tradition with a prize purse this year of $830,500, plus $220,000 in performance bonuses. During the past 30 years, the company has awarded over $18 million in prize and bonus awards.
Each year, John Hancock recruits and sponsors the top distance runners in the world to participate in the Marathon as members of the John Hancock Elite Athlete Team. Since the sponsorship began, the company has invited over 700 elites from 46 countries to participate in the race.
The company hosts these runners at the John Hancock Elite Athlete Village, where employee-volunteers ensure they are taken care of during race week. The company also sponsors the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo, which is the official location for picking up entry bibs and other important race information. The Expo serves as a hub for Marathon participants and their guests throughout race weekend, drawing 200 exhibitors and 90,000 visitors.
To support the local, national, and international media representatives who cover the race, John Hancock’s Corporate Communications and Sponsorship departments produce the official Boston Marathon print and online media guides; coordinate press events, materials, and credentials; host a Twitter site @jhboston26, and support the operation of the Boston Marathon press rooms.
On race day, John Hancock provides the use of several facilities in Copley Square, the services of hundreds of employee-sponsored volunteers to assist with race-related tasks, and a giant television screen near the finish line for the public to view the race.
In addition, the company also contributes a wide range of financial support and services to the eight towns and cities along the Marathon route in appreciation for past and continued support of the race. The eight communities are Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston.
For additional information about John Hancock, please visit http://www.johnhancock.com.