2009 News Releases

Ho Chi Minh City - A Manulife Vietnam donation is helping 150 children to smile again, through facial reconstruction surgery. Manulife Vietnam is donating VND 200 million to the charity organization Operation Smile to fund a medical mission to Can Tho City.

Starting today (Nov 6) through November 14, at the Can Tho National hospital, more than 60 medical volunteers from overseas as well as local doctors and nurses from the National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology of Ho Chi Minh City, will hold a Operation Smile mission to provide free surgeries for approximately 150 children and young adults born with facial deformities in Mekong Delta provinces.

“It is our hope to give as many children as possible who have a deformity, the opportunity to grow and experience what life has to offer through the simple gift of a smile,” said David Wong, CEO & General Director, Manulife Vietnam. “Operation Smile can influence and change each child’s life through a 45-minute surgery. So in celebration of our 10-year anniversary, we have supported this worthwhile charity by producing the “Singing for smiles” charity music CD to raise funds for Operation Smile Vietnam. The most important thing is for children to be given the chance to regain their self-esteem and confidence, which are important milestones along the path to gaining social acceptance. We are truly bringing dreams to life,” David Wong added.

For nine years in a row, Manulife Vietnam has been a long-term supporter of Operation Smile Vietnam and has made significant contributions of VND 2 billion to the funding of these important missions, aimed at bringing back hundreds of smiles for disadvantaged children across the country. In addition to the financial support offered, a number of dedicated Manulife Vietnam staff and agents have joined these missions as volunteers to assist the local team of Operation Smile with logistics work. 

With its reputation as the leading life insurance company in Vietnam, Manulife has made a long-term commitment to improving the quality of life for the local community, especially children. “We are very proud to again be the sponsor for the Operation Smile program that carries out this extraordinary noble mission. Together with a highly specialized medical team, more than 20 staff and agents of Manulife Vietnam have given up their spare time to make a difference to these children’s lives. The 45-minute surgeries offer immediate and life-altering results, giving hope and social acceptance back to children and their families. Our contribution today helps Operation Smile change young lives, one smile at a time,” added David Wong.

“In developing countries such as Vietnam, one in 500 babies is born with a facial deformity,” said Mr.  Ken Atkinson, Chairman of Operation Smile Vietnam’s Board of Sponsors, at a press conference today.  “To commemorate 20 years of providing new smiles, Operation Smile will launch ‘20 years of Smiles – a Journey of Miracles’. In November, Operation Smile will hold 20 simultaneous medical missions providing dental treatment and reconstructive surgeries for 2,000 children and adults across Vietnam, thanks to the support of our donors and sponsors, such as Manulife Vietnam.  Our efforts here in Vietnam would not be possible without the support of Manulife. We thank Manulife for their generous ongoing support and dedication to truly making a difference to the people of this country.  Both their financial and volunteer contributions have served to help for the first time put smiles on the faces of hundreds of Vietnamese children across the country.”

About Manulife Vietnam
Manulife Vietnam - the first 100 per cent foreign-owned life insurance company licensed in Vietnam - provides financial services to more than 300,000 customers through a network of over 6,000 professionally qualified agents. Manulife has been operating in Vietnam since June 1999. On June 14, 2005, Manulife Vietnam Fund Management (MVFM), a wholly owned local subsidiary of Manulife Vietnam, was granted license to operate a fund management and  portfolio management services, further expanding Manulife Vietnam’s product offerings for its customers.

Manulife Vietnam remains committed to supporting the communities, in which it conducts business in both educational and charitable activities, donating a total of more than VND 8 billion since 1999.  Some of the organizations and programs to which the Company has donated time and money include: the Vietnam Association for Promoting and Supporting Educational Development, Terry Fox Foundation, Operation Smile, Health Check and Care programs, Saigon Children’s Charity, National Library for the Blind, the annual Manulife Care and Let’s help children go to school program.

About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 22 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily through John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers customers a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners.  Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$437 billion (US$407 billion) as at September 30, 2009.

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 www.manulife.com.

About Operation Smile :
Operation Smile is a leading humanitarian and medical relief organization dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults worldwide.   Operation Smile has nearly 25 years of experience in providing high-quality, safe surgical care to those in need.  An idea that started out as one mission site in the Philippines in 1982 has grown to 45 medical/educational sites in 19 mission countries.   In Vietnam, Operation Smile Vietnam  has provided surgery on more than  30,000 children who were born with hare lips and facial deformities over the last 20 years. For further information, please access www.operationsmile.org.vn.

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