MLK Summer Scholars Program Seeks Not-for-Profit Partners

BOSTON, Jan. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock invites community-based-not-for-profits to apply for partnership in its largest annual education initiative, the MLK Summer Scholars program.  The initiative is named in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and pays tribute to his message of social change through hard work. 

Working in conjunction with the City of Boston, John Hancock created this innovative program in partnership with The Boston Globe, Partners HealthCare, and Boston University to help develop a future generation of skilled workers while adding significant value to Boston's communities. 

The seven-week program, which runs between July 7th and August 22th in 2014, offers city teens meaningful summer employment, job readiness and life-skills training opportunities.  Non-Profits that are selected for partnership will be provided a $1,500 grant for each MLK Scholar position awarded to enable them to hire teens to work for their organizations.  The program will fund 650 youth jobs this summer. 

In addition to offering important work experience, the program provides a unique series of job readiness and life-skills workshops for all Scholars in the John Hancock Student Village at Boston University.  The workshops draw some of the Commonwealth's most interesting, relevant and important business and community leaders to engage on topics ranging from leadership to financial literacy.  

Over the last five years MLK Summer Scholars has served more than 3,200 Boston teenagers and is believed to be the largest, most comprehensive, corporate-based summer jobs program of its kind in the nation.  For more information on MLK Summer Scholars and to access the 2014 Application, please visit http://www.mlksummerscholars.com.  Applications will be accepted through February 14, 2014. 

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial
John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife Financial, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily as 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 C$575 billion (US$559 billion) as at September 30, 2013.  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 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, 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 johnhancock.com.

SOURCE John Hancock Financial