Boston Marathon Races Money To Nonprofits

Financial services group John Hancock raised a record $6.8 million for nonprofits through its Boston Marathon program. The funds represented a 29 percent increase from the totals from the 2011 results.

As part of John Hancock’s sponsorship of the race, nonprofits are guaranteed entry numbers that enable funds to be raised for that organization. More than 1,000 runners helped raise money and awareness for 122 organizations in this year’s Marathon, which occurred on April 16. Approximately 114 of the racers were employees from John Hancock and its parent company, Manulife Financial. They raised $200,000 towards the following organizations: the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, the Center for Teen Empowerment, Ron Burton Training Village and Habitat for Humanity Canada.

"Our employees are a source of pride each year as they dedicate their running to benefit our community partners," said James R. Boyle, President of John Hancock, said in a statement. "We are especially proud our Boston Marathon principal sponsorship made it possible for so many individuals to raise money and awareness to support great causes throughout greater Boston."

Other organizations that benefited from the 2012 Boston Marathon were Mass General Hospital for Children, Boston Children's Hospital, Tufts University, Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, the Hoyt Foundation, Horizons for Homeless Children, and Perkins School for the Blind.

"Each year countless individuals in Boston and beyond are touched in many ways, large and small, by John Hancock's Boston Marathon Non-Profit program,” said Peter L. Slavin, MD, President, Massachusetts General Hospital, in a release. "At Mass General, this important funding has supported programs that enhance the quality of care for our youngest cancer patients and fuel innovative research focused on finding better cancer treatments and cures. We are grateful for John Hancock's generosity and the hope it offers to the children and families we serve."

This was the 15th year Mass General has partnered with John Hancock. The organization has raised $765,000 through the 2012 marathon to date, and $8 million since the year of their first involvement in the program.

In addition to money raised for participating organizations, John Hancock led an effort among its business partners to raise almost $150,000 for the Myra H. Kraft Giving Back Scholarship Fund at the Boys & Girls Club of Boston. The fund was established in 2003 to honor the 40th wedding anniversary of Robert Kraft, who is owner of the New England Patriots, and Myra, who passed away in July of last year.

The Boston Marathon has for years bought economic prosperity to the city. In 2012, the race bought an estimated $137.5 million in spending impact to the Greater Boston region, according to statistics from the Greater Boston Convention & Visitor Bureau.