The Boston Athletic Association thanks the following sponsors for their generous support of the 2009 Boston Marathon.

John Hancock and Boston Marathon Celebrate 24th Year of Partnership

John Hancock is celebrating the 24th year of its landmark sponsorship of the race at this year’s Boston Marathon. The company’s continued support of the Boston Athletic Association, which has directed the race since 1897, ensures the stability of the world’s oldest annual marathon.

As principal sponsor, John Hancock has provided substantial financial resources, including the first-ever prize money in 1986, and has continued that tradition with a prize purse this year of $806,000, plus $220,000 for performance bonuses.

In addition, the Company also contributes a wide range of financial support and services to towns along the Marathon route in appreciation for past and continued support of the race. The eight communities are Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston.

To support the thousands of local, national, and international media representatives who arrive in the city to cover the race, John Hancock’s Corporate Communications department assists in the production of an informative media guide, the coordination of press materials and credentials, and the operation of the pressroom. On race day, John Hancock provides the use of several facilities in Copley Square, the services of more than 500 employee-sponsored volunteers to assist with race-related tasks, and a giant television screen near the finish line for the public to view the race.

Each year, John Hancock recruits 30 of the world’s top distance runners and brings these elite athletes to Boston for the Marathon, where they stay in the “John Hancock Elite Athlete Village” set up at the John Hancock Conference Center. The Company also sponsors the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo, which is the official location for picking up entry bibs and other important race information. The Expo serves as a hub for Marathon participants and their guests throughout Race Weekend, drawing 200 exhibitors and 80,000 visitors.

John Hancock sponsors many community initiatives in coordination with the Marathon each year including the Boston Marathon Kenya Project, the Adopt-a-Marathoner program at the Elmwood Elementary School in Hopkinton, and the John Hancock Charity Bib Program.

The Boston Marathon Kenya Project utilizes the venue of the Boston Marathon to teach Boston elementary students about the history of this international race and the distinctive fact that Kenyans have dominated the course over the past decade. In addition John Hancock volunteers and executives educate students on subjects including the culture, tribes, language, and geography of Kenya. The program is held at the African Tropical Forest exhibit in Boston's community zoo and includes a visit and open forum with Boston Marathon Kenyan champions.

The Adopt-a-Marathoner Program, now in its 17th year, brings John Hancock’s elite Kenyan runners together with Hopkinton elementary students for a pre-race pep-rally in the historic town where the marathon begins. Students study the culture of their running friends throughout the year and are introduced to the athletes during race week at an assembly and later meet with them in small groups.

The Charity Bib Program leverages the race to support worthy causes with John Hancock donating invitational entry “bibs” to local non-profits. In 2008, 779 program participants used these bibs to raise $3.3 million. Additionally, 96 John Hancock and Manulife employees also ran the Marathon on behalf of several local non-profits and this year they expect to exceed the $134,000 they raised last year. The Boston Marathon Fundraising Program was part of John Hancock’s $11.3 million of support to Boston area community programs in 2008. The company also donates 10,000 hours of community support through its employee volunteer programs each year.