John Hancock and Boston Marathon celebrate 30 years of partnership
2015 marks the 30th 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 Scholars & Stars in Hopkinton, now in its 23rd 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 together with Boston high school scholar-athletes for small-group running clinics. In 2014, Boston Marathon champions Bill Rodgers, Greg Meyer, Sharon Cherop, and Caroline Kilel shared training tips with more than 300 students at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center during race week. U.S. elite athlete Serena Burla, John Hancock employee-volunteers, representatives from the Boston Scholar Athlete Program, and Mayor Martin Walsh also participated.
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 for performance bonuses. During the past 29 years, John Hancock has awarded over $17.3 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. Athletes are hosted during race week at the John Hancock Elite Athlete Village.
John Hancock also sponsors the 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 80,000 visitors.
To support the local, national, and international media representatives who cover the race, John Hancock’s Corporate Communications and Sponsorship Marketing 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, John Hancock 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.