WATERLOO, ON, April 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - In celebration of its 125^th anniversary, Manulife Financial is encouraging Canadians to collectively pledge 125,000 hours of volunteer work for causes near and dear to their hearts.

Drive to 125 is a social-cause campaign promoted on the Get Volunteering Facebook page - a site managed by Manulife Financial to promote and support volunteerism.  Canadians are encouraged to visit Get Volunteering and pledge the number of volunteer hours they plan to invest from now until 9:00 a.m. (EST) on December 5^th, 2012, a date recognized worldwide as the United Nation's International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development.

The recent Canadian Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating indicated that less than half of all Canadians volunteered between 2007 and 2010. "As such, we want to inspire more Canadians to give back and invest time and talent in their communities," shares Nicole Boivin, Senior Vice President and Chief Branding and Communications Officer at Manulife. "In addition to the added volunteer hours our charities will receive through Drive to 125, one lucky organization will win $10,000 as each person who makes a pledge will have their name entered into a special draw." The winner of the draw chooses the deserving charity.

Along with their own pledge, individuals also have the option of inviting Facebook friends to take up the Drive to 125 challenge for themselves.  Highlights from participant news feeds are emphasized on the Get Volunteering page.  Real-time info-graphics emphasize the campaign's progress and are available to all participants on an ongoing basis.

The campaign launches this week - known across the country as National Volunteer Week.  The winner of the Drive to 125 will be contacted on December 5^th, 2012.  Adds Ms. Boivin, "At Manulife we believe that every volunteer, every volunteer act and every hour given back is an investment in the future of all Canadians. We hope you'll consider investing time in the causes you care about most."

About Manulife's commitment to volunteerism

Preparing for the future is something Manulife gets behind every day. The Manulife Volunteer Commitment focuses on helping Canadians build a better future on three important levels: by inspiring Canadians to want to get involved and give back; by supporting initiatives that help Canadians match their unique skills and talents with meaningful volunteer opportunities; and by engaging Canadians in the idea of volunteerism and its value to the future of our country.  To learn more, visit www.manulife.ca  or Get Volunteering on Facebook.

About Manulife Financial 

Manulife Financial is a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. In 2012, we celebrate 125 years of providing clients 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$500 billion (US$491 billion) as at December 31, 2011. 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

Image with caption: "Drive to 125 (CNW Group/Manulife Financial Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120417_C6333_PHOTO_EN_12416.jpg