John Hancock, the financial services company that is the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon, said Wednesday that its Boston Marathon nonpofit program raised a record $6.8 million as part of the 116th running of the historic race in April.

The amount represents a 29 percent increase over 2011’s fund-raising results, Boston-based John Hancock said.

One reason for the increase: The company said it has increased the resources it puts behind the Boston Marathon program, in part by giving additional help to its nonprofit fund-raising partners.

Hancock said the amount raised by its employees and employees of its parent company, Canada-based Manulife Financial Corp., also rose sharply. Hancock and Manulife employees raised nearly $200,000 in 2012, a 14 percent increase over 2011.

Among the organizations benefitting from the 2012 program were MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston Children’s Hospital, Tufts University, Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, the Hoyt Foundation, Horizons for Homeless Children, and Perkins School for the Blind, John Hancock said.