2009 News Releases

Ho Chi Minh City - Today, 1000 employees and agents of Manulife Vietnam participated in a five- kilometer run with the goal of raising VND 100 million for the 13^th  annual Terry Fox Run held in Phu My Hung Urban Center, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.

Co-organized by the Canadian Consulate General, Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the HCMC Union of Friendship Organizations, this annual event has supported cancer research in Vietnam on behalf of the Terry Fox Foundation in Canada since 1996.

“We are truly delighted to have worked with the Terry Fox Run since 2000,” said David Wong, CEO & General Director of Manulife Vietnam. “As a Canadian-based company, Manulife is committed to giving back to the community where we work and we are particularly proud of the impact the Terry Fox Foundation has made around the world in fighting cancer. We are also very proud of our staff and agents for their ongoing commitment to this meaningful cause, which is now a regular event in our annual activity calendar.”

He continued: “More than 200 Manulife Vietnam members enthusiastically joined the Hanoi Run for Children held in Thuyen Quang Lake, Hanoi on November 22nd, and the participation of our 1000 employees and agents in the Terry Fox Run today in Ho Chi Minh City again symbolizes our contribution to the welfare of the community.”

Terry Fox, a Canadian who suffered from bone cancer, losing his leg to the disease, is the inspiration for the Run.  He was so overcome by the suffering of cancer patients that he took on the challenge of running across Canada in the Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research.  Terry ran 5,373 kilometers in 143 days before being stopped by the return of cancer. He died in 1981 at the age of 22 but his legacy lives on through annual fund-raising events held in his name in 60 countries worldwide.

The Terry Fox Run is particularly significant in that all participants donate a minimum pledge of VND 100,000 to raise funds for cancer research.   Last year, over VND 750 million was raised in the Terry Fox Run in Ho Chi Minh City with more than 8,000 participants. This year, the organizer hopes to build on last year’s success by welcoming more participants and raising even more money.

About Manulife Vietnam
Manulife Vietnam - the first 100 per cent foreign-owned life insurance company licensed in Vietnam - provides financial services to more than 300,000 customers through a network of over 5,500 professionally qualified agents. Manulife has been operating in Vietnam since June 1999. On June 14, 2005, Manulife Vietnam Fund Management (MVFM), a wholly owned local subsidiary of Manulife Vietnam, was granted license to operate a fund management and portfolio management services, further expanding Manulife Vietnam’s product offerings for its customers.

Manulife Vietnam remains committed to supporting the communities, in which it conducts business in both educational and charitable activities, donating a total of more than VND 8 billion since 1999.  Some of the organizations and programs to which the Company has donated time and money include: the Vietnam Association for Promoting and Supporting Educational Development, Terry Fox Foundation, Operation Smile, Health Check and Care programs, Saigon Children’s Charity, National Library for the Blind, the annual Manulife Care and Let’s help children go to school program. 

About 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$437 billion (US$407 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 www.manulife.com.

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