Manulife Financial donates $100,000 to Typhoon Haiyan recovery effort

WATERLOO, ON, Nov. 12, 2013 /CNW/ - Manulife Financial announced today that it will donate $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross in support of relief efforts following the deadly Typhoon Haiyan which devastated the central Philippines over the weekend.

Manulife Financial will also match employee donations to the Canadian Red Cross for Typhoon Haiyan relief. These efforts support the Canadian government's recent announcement that it will match every dollar donated by Canadians between Nov. 9 and Dec. 8. To qualify, donations must be made to a registered Canadian charity and specifically earmarked for typhoon relief.

"We have done business in the Philippines for more than 100 years and we want to help support the country and its people as much as we can as they deal with this incredible devastation," said Marianne Harrison, President and CEO of Manulife Canada. "Our thoughts and hopes go out to the more than nine million people there who have been impacted by the storm."

Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, devastated the central Philippines over the weekend. High winds and flood waters washed out roads, knocked out power and destroyed homes and properties. More than 620,000 people were displaced from their homes and the hardest hit area was the coastal city of Tacloban, where as many as 10,000 people are feared dead.

About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Clients look to Manulife for strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients. We also provide asset management services to institutional customers. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$574.6 billion (US$558.7 billion) as at September 30, 2013. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States.

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.

SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation