OUR STORIES


Pioneering a Legacy
1868-1900

Vision and Promise
1901-1960

Innovating for the Future
1961-1996

Strength to Grow
1997-2018


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Outrunning Cancer: Pacific Life and Race for the Cure

 


Team Pacific Life in 2016. Pacific Life

  • Since 1991, Pacific Life has been the home of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Orange County
  • Pacific Life “Good Guys” volunteer each year to help set up, organize VIP events and manage security for the building
  • Pacific Life has helped raise more than $38 million for the Komen foundation

Contestants cross the finish line outside of the Pacific Life headquarters in Newport Beach. Pacific Life Archives
Contestants cross the finish line outside of the Pacific Life headquarters in Newport Beach.
Pacific Life Archives


It really becomes a fun and sociable event, but also highly emotional and highly impactful for everybody involved as you hear the stories and you see the participants, and you learn about the folks that couldn't participate." Doug Jackson

  • In 1998, Pacific Life's Individual Client Services fielded a team in support of their coworker, Jennifer Blackstone (center), who had been battling breast cancer.
    In 1998, Pacific Life's Individual Client Services fielded a team in support of their coworker, Jennifer Blackstone (center), who had been battling breast cancer.
    Pacific Life Archives
  • In 1998, Pacific Life's Individual Client Services fielded a team in support of their coworker, Jennifer Blackstone (center), who had been battling breast cancer.
    Pacific Life Archives
  • Here's Pacific Life's race team from 2017.
    Here's Pacific Life's race team from 2017.
    Pacific Life
  • Here's Pacific Life's race team from 2017.
    Pacific Life

Every year since its inaugural event in 1991, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Orange County has called Pacific Life home. The event, which raises millions each year for breast cancer research, is the largest of its kind in Orange County.

What started with a modest 3,800 participants has morphed into a massive event, with 15,000 attendees in 2017. Each year, participants convene on the steps of the Pacific Life building in Newport Beach in the early morning the day of the race. Pacific Life’s Good Guys volunteer at the race, arriving at 5 a.m. to help set up, organize VIP events and manage security for the building.

“It really becomes a fun and sociable event, but also highly emotional and highly impactful for everybody involved as you hear the stories and you see the participants, and you learn about the folks that couldn’t participate. It really is a wonderful event,” said Doug Jackson, assistant vice president for Product Management and Sales Support, Retirement Solutions Division.

The annual race is fun for everyone; it’s also incredibly important for Pacific Life, the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Orange County. In addition to being home to the event, Pacific Life also has an employee-based team and raises money for the cause. In 2017, the Pacific Life team had 266 participants and raised nearly $10,000, with that number continuing to grow for the Orange County chapter of the Susan G. Komen organization. Most importantly, Pacific Life has helped raise more than $38 million for the Komen foundation over the past 25 years—a figure that’s certain to continue to increase in the coming years.

This site was designed as a reference tool to commemorate Pacific Life's 150-year history between 1868-2018. For the latest company info and news, please visit pacificlife.com.