YouthBuild Boston announces partnership
with Women Build Boston

Year-long effort to renovate homes, renew community spearheaded by
Angela Menino and Diane Patrick, sponsored by John Hancock.

BOSTON, MA, November 1, 2007 – YouthBuild Boston today announced a new year-long partnership called 500 Women Build Boston which will engage women in all sectors and walks of life promoting mentor relationships with YouthBuild trainees, as they work together on more than 50 construction and rehabilitation projects throughout city neighborhoods. YouthBuild Boston is an award-winning nonprofit dedicated to workforce development. The first renovation project launches today at 20 Rutland Square in Boston’s South End. Spearheading the initiative are Angela Menino, First Lady of Boston, and Diane Patrick, First Lady of Massachusetts. John Hancock Financial is the principal sponsor of the initiative.

Along with Mrs. Patrick and Mrs. Menino today at 20 Rutland Square were Mayor Thomas Menino; Carol Fulp, Vice President of Community Relations for John Hancock; John D. DesPrez III, President and CEO of John Hancock; James D. Gallagher, Senior Vice President of Communications, Government & Community Relations and Diana Scott, Senior Vice President, Human Resources. They were joined by YouthBuild Executive Director, Ken Smith and 4 female trainees from YouthBuild and two dozen John Hancock volunteers.

YouthBuild Boston and 500 Women Build Boston will collaborate in four areas:

• Building housing for low-income disabled persons
• Weatherizing the homes of low-income elderly residents
• Assisting local nonprofits with interior and exterior renovations
• Rejuvenating public parks and playgrounds

“500 Women Build Boston is an outgrowth of ‘Boston Women Build in the Bayou,’ a four-day trip of 30 Boston-area women to participate in a home-building project in post-Katrina New Orleans,” said Ms. Fulp. “The project in New Orleans was a life-changing experience, and the participants returned home with a new commitment to build and strengthen the Boston community as well,” she added.

Partnership opportunities are available for volunteers. Groups of four to 20 women may participate in “Construction Days” as part of a $5,000 corporate sponsorship. Community agency groups will be able to volunteer without charge through the support of corporate sponsorships.

For information regarding this partnership, please contact:

Loreen Zwible, Service Project Coordinator
YouthBuild Boston
617.445.8887 x19
lzwible@ybboston.org

Beth McGoldrick
John Hancock Financial Services
617.663.4751
bmcgoldrick@jhancock.com