2010 News Releases

Ho Chi Minh City - To help underprivileged children celebrate the Tet New Year festive season, Manulife Vietnam in coordination with the local Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, is proudly launching its 9th annual “Manulife Care” charity program.

The program takes place in four provinces and cities where Manulife Vietnam has operations: Da Nang, Vung Tau, Can Tho and Binh Duong.

Through this program, Manulife Vietnam donated VND 150 million in gifts to 1,000 needy children across the country to help them celebrate this festive season.  Each child receives VND 150,000 worth of T-shirts, Manulife notebooks and confectioneries.

The Manulife Care program kicked off today in Binh Duong province. More than 20 Manulife Vietnam staff and agent volunteers from the Binh Duong office presented gifts to over 300 underprivileged children at Tan Lap Primary School, Phu Giao District, Binh Duong Province.

The Manulife Care program demonstrates Manulife Vietnam’s long-term commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities in which it does business, especially children who are the leaders of tomorrow.

“As part of our corporate culture, Manulife is an active corporate citizen,” said Carl Gustini, CEO & General Director of Manulife Vietnam, at the kick off ceremony today. “This is the ninth year in a row that we have run our Manulife Care program with the goal of helping to boost the holiday spirit of Vietnamese children. Along with our continuous support of the annual Operation Smile mission, we are proud to participate in various children‘s charity events, which help them to have a better life and a brighter future. Our Manulife Care program provides us another opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the communities that have loyally supported our business over the past ten years,” he added.

About Manulife Vietnam
Manulife Vietnam - the first 100 per cent foreign-owned life insurance company licensed in Vietnam - provides financial services to 300,000 customers through a network of over 6,500 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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