John Hancock Financial Donates 35,000 Trees to Michigan Forest

Part of Corporate Celebration in Honor of Parent Company Manulife


BOSTON, Dec. 17  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- John Hancock Financial will donate 35,000 trees to the American Forests' 2010 Kirtland's Warbler Habitat Creation project in the Huron Manistee Forest. The project is designed to provide habitat restoration for the Kirtland's Warbler, an endangered species song bird which requires both the particular Jack Pine species to nest in and scattered openings of land to fulfill their habitat needs.

As part of a celebration of ten years as a public company, John Hancock's parent, Toronto-based Manulife Financial Corporation, pledged to donate a tree for each of its employees, agents and retirees (75,000 total) and allotted 35,000 to John Hancock for planting in the U.S. John Hancock elected to plant its trees in support of an American Forests project in Michigan.

"John Hancock and Manulife Financial have a longstanding relationship with the state of Michigan. In fact, Manulife Financial established its U.S. operations in Michigan in 1903, so we want to give back to the state that has become so important to the company," said Jim Gallagher, Executive Vice President, John Hancock Financial. "We are proud of the growth that these trees symbolize and hope that they too grow to rebuild this habitat."

"It is thanks to the generosity of our corporate partners and our individual members, that we are able to accomplish so much," said American Forests Vice President Greg Meyer. "We thank John Hancock for deciding to work with us on this project."

  The trees are expected to be planted in the spring of 2010.

  About the Huron-Manistee National Forests


The Huron-Manistee National Forests comprise almost a million acres of public lands extending across the northern lower peninsula of Michigan.  The Huron-Manistee National Forests provide recreation opportunities for visitors, habitat for fish and wildlife, and resources for local industry.

About American Forests

American Forests' mission is to grow a healthier world with trees by working with communities on local efforts that restore and maintain forest ecosystems. Our work encompasses planting trees, calculating the value of urban forests, fostering environmental education, and improving public policy for trees at the national level. We have a goal of 100 million trees planted by 2020.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 22 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$436.5 billion (US$407.1 billion) as at September 30, 2009. . Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at http://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 life insurance, fixed and variable annuities, fixed products, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at http://www.johnhancock.com/. 

DATASOURCE: John Hancock Financial Services



CONTACT:  Melissa Berczuk of John Hancock Financial Services,

[phone], 



Web Site:  http://www.jhancock.com/ 

Copyright