2004 News Releases

Boston– The Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE), a private, non-profit organization dedicated to finding “a place to call HOME” for children living in foster care, announced today that Manulife USA will join them as a partner to host a public information session to recruit and educate new families about foster care adoption, the adoption process and the children MARE serves.

This public information session is scheduled for Saturday, June 19, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Dorothy Quincy Suite, John Hancock Hall, in Boston. At this event, attendees will be presented with a general overview about foster care adoption and the process to adopt a child, followed by workshops that will focus on specific areas of the adoption process. In addition, they will have the opportunity to meet with social workers who represent the children waiting to be adopted. This session will serve as first step for those individuals and couples interested in exploring adoption as a means for beginning or growing their family.

Currently there are more than 600 Massachusetts children waiting to be adopted from foster care who do not have an identified adoptive family. Through events like this, MARE is working to find permanency for all these waiting children.

“We are so pleased to be renewing this valuable partnership with Manulife USA,” said Carolyn Smith, MARE’s Executive Director. “They have been a dedicated partner over the past few years, and we are honored that they will continue to help us further our mission through this new initiative.”

“Manulife USA is proud to be associated with an organization that does so much to support the needs of adoptive families,” said John D. DesPrez III, Chairman and President, Manulife USA. “Through MARE’s public information meetings, prospective parents with a curiosity about adoption will have the opportunity to have questions answered and concerns addressed while learning more about the process of adoption and the rewards of creating a home for children in foster care.”

The Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange
Founded in 1957, The Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) is a private, non-profit agency that exists to find “a place to call HOME” for special needs CHILDREN, sibling groups and children who are traditionally harder to place. We do this by recruiting, educating, supporting and advocating for FAMILIES throughout the adoption process. In 2003, MARE assisted in the placement of more than 150 children into adoptive homes. For more information, please visit the MARE Web site at www.mareinc.org or call (617) 54-ADOPT.

About Manulife
The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (Manulife USA) is committed to offering the highest quality life insurance, pension, and individual wealth management products to its clients. Its family of products has been built around a powerful combination of investment options chosen with the goal of providing attractive risk-adjusted returns and broad diversification across asset classes, investment styles, and asset managers. With its extensive product lines, competitive underwriting, excellent ratings, and quality customer service, Manulife USA is dedicated to providing quality products designed to help create and preserve wealth for its clients.

Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group operating in 15 countries and territories worldwide. Through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners, Manulife Financial offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services. Funds under management by Manulife Financial were US$121.2 billion (Cdn$156.7 billion) as at December 31, 2003.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ‘0945’ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

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