Boston Marathon Champions Wesley Korir and Caroline Rotich join 250 Boston School Children at John Hancock's Scholars and Stars

BOSTON, April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Boston Marathon principal sponsor John Hancock, in partnership with the UNICEF USA New England region, hosted an event at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center for 250 students participating in UNICEF Kid Power in Boston.

Boston Marathon champions Wesley Korir and Caroline Rotich joined John Hancock officials to congratulate the Boston school children for the impact they are making in the world by getting active to save lives with UNICEF Kid Power. During the event, the students stayed active while learning school yard games from five countries including: Shaky Shaky Shake Your Body (Ghana); Chinese Ball (China); Doorkeeper (Afghanistan); Mar y Tierra (Spain) and a Soccer Relay Race (USA).

UNICEF Kid Power activates kids' inner heroes, giving them the power to end global malnutrition and save lives, one step at a time.  Only 1 in 4 American kids is getting enough physical activity, while almost 1 in 4 children globally is malnourished. With the UNICEF Kid Power Band, kids run, jump and play to unlock lifesaving nutrition that UNICEF delivers to severely malnourished children around the world. To date, the UNICEF Kid Power Team has provided more than 6.4 million packets of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), enough to save the lives of more than 40,000 malnourished children.

John Hancock is the City Sponsor of the UNICEF Kid Power Schools Program in Boston, which has more than 6,000 participating students this year. This spring, the UNICEF Kid Power Team has more than 170,000 students from around the country participating in the UNICEF Kid Power Schools Program, a teacher-led experience that takes students on Missions to complete lessons and activities in which they learn about different cultures and UNICEF's work to help children everywhere survive and thrive.

"UNICEF Kid Power is an extraordinary program that empowers local kids to move – not by telling them that they need to do so – but by motivating them to help others," said Thomas Crohan, assistant vice president and counsel, Corporate Responsibility and Government Relations, John Hancock. "As the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon, we're especially glad that Marathon champion Wesley Korir, who's also an elected member of the Kenyan Parliament, joined us to share his inspiring stories with the students."    

"I am honored to join John Hancock to support the UNICEF Kid Power program," said Korir. "It is tremendous, and touching, for me to see these children getting active while contributing to the elimination of global malnutrition. These issues are both close to my heart and I am very impressed with this program and the kids' intention of helping others."

"I am so proud of the progress the UNICEF Kid Power Team has made to help end global malnutrition and am excited that we will once again be represented at John Hancock's Scholars and Stars celebration" said Matthew Bane, Managing Director, New England region, UNICEF USA.  "This spring over 6,000 students in the Boston area are participating in this inspiring, educational and lifesaving program.  I am humbled by the determination of Boston's youth to make a lasting impact for their peers around the globe." 

Schools at the event included: the Blackstone Innovation School, Boston; Curley K8 School, Jamaica Plain; Josiah Quincy Elementary School, Boston; Dave A. Ellis Elementary School, Roxbury; Orchard Gardens Pilot School, Roxbury; and McKinley Elementary School, Boston.

In addition to Scholars & Stars in Boston, John Hancock conducts many community initiatives in conjunction with the Boston Marathon, including the Scholars & Stars in Hopkinton at Elmwood Elementary School in Hopkinton, and the John Hancock Boston Marathon Non-Profit Program.

About UNICEF Kid Power

UNICEF Kid Power activates kids' inner heroes, giving them the power to end global malnutrition and save lives, one step at a time. With the UNICEF Kid Power Band – the world's first Wearable-for-Good® – kids use their activity to unlock lifesaving nutrition that UNICEF delivers to severely malnourished children around the world. Created to help solve the global challenge that 1 in 4 kids around the world is malnourished, while only 1 in 4 American kids is getting enough physical activity, the UNICEF Kid Power Band was named by TIME Magazine as one of the 'Best Inventions' of 2016. Kid Power is COPPA and CISPA compliant. UNICEF Kid Power is a program of UNICEF USA and is made possible thanks to the generous support of Presenting Sponsors Star Wars: Force for Change and Target, as well as local supporters, parents and fans. Learn more and join the team by visiting www.unicefkidpower.org or your local Target store. 

About UNICEF

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.com

About Wesley Korir

Wesley Korir, the 2012 Boston Marathon champion, has never finished out of the top five in four Boston runnings. He is a Member of Parliament for the Cherangany Constituency in Kenya, and is currently working with dairy farmers to improve their combined yield. He and his wife founded the Kenyan Kids' Foundation, which supports children, farmers, and healthcare providers near Korir's home village of Kitale. The couple built a hospital in honor of Korir's brother Nicholas, who died from a black-mamba snakebite.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife

John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Operating as Manulife in Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, our group of companies offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Assets under management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were $977 billion (US $728 billion) as at December 31, 2016. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife can be found on the Internet at manulife.com. The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers and administers a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments,  401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

SOURCE John Hancock Financial

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