Cornerstone contribution to grow to $1 million
TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2015 /CNW/ - Manulife today announced that it is
partnering with Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) to establish the
Welcome Fund for Syrian Refugees (Welcome Fund). Manulife has donated
$500,000 to seed the Welcome Fund. Canada's community foundation
network will also match this contribution at the local level, for a
total investment of $1 million to communities that will support
refugees.
The donation is in response to Minister of Immigration, Refugees and
Citizenship, John McCallum's recent challenge to Canadian companies to
support Syrian refugee settlement efforts in Canada. The Welcome Fund
will address the refugees' immediate needs for transitional housing,
job training and skills development as identified by the Government.
"The Government has embarked on a significant humanitarian effort to
relocate 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada," said Donald Arthur Guloien,
President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife. "We applaud this
initiative and support it with a significant contribution of time and
funds. It is impossible for us to imagine the hardships endured by
these people, and as Canadians with an international perspective, we must extend our hand in welcome,
as others did with our ancestors."
Manulife is working with CFC to support communities across Canada who
will be welcoming new members in the coming months. Community
foundations will direct contributions to local charitable organizations
in each community where they will have the greatest impact. More than
85 per cent of Canadian communities have access to a community
foundation.
"Like so many Canadians and local organizations, community foundations
are seeking the best way to contribute and welcome Syrian refugees to
Canada. We know how important this work is," said Ian Bird, President,
CFC. "By working closely with our partners at Manulife, as with others,
we can align our resources with the know-how of Canada's robust
settlement network and work together to ensure our communities are
places where we all belong."
About Community Foundations of Canada
Community Foundations of Canada is the national network for Canada's 191
community foundations which help Canadians invest in building strong
and resilient places to live, work, and play. Community foundations
contribute time, leadership and financial support to initiatives that
benefit community most, directing grants and other investments towards
everything from shelter, education, and care for those in need, to the
arts, environment and recreation. Collectively community foundations
manage more than $4.6 billion in assets and have put hundreds of
millions back into communities over our 94 year history. To learn more
visit www.communityfoundations.ca.
About Manulife
Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial
services group providing forward-thinking solutions to help people with
their big financial decisions. We operate as John Hancock in the
United States, and Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice,
insurance and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals,
groups and institutions. At the end of 2014, we had 28,000 employees,
58,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving 20
million customers. At the end of September 2015, we had $888 billion
(US$663 billion) in assets under management and administration, and in
the previous 12 months we made more than $23 billion in benefits,
interest and other payments to our customers. Our principal operations
are in Asia, Canada and the United States where we have served
customers for more than 100 years. With our global headquarters in
Toronto, Canada, we trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the
Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong. Follow
Manulife on Twitter @ManulifeNews or visit www.manulife.com or www.johnhancock.com.
SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation
