$1 million competition returns
Toronto, ON (Sept. 8, 2014) – Aviva Canada, one of the country’s leading providers of home, automobile, recreational vehicle, group and business insurance, is proud to announce that the sixth annual Aviva Community Fund competition will kick off September 22.
The company will once again offer $1 million to encourage Canadians to lead, volunteer and support community initiatives across the country. “This year it is easier than ever for ideas to earn funding with the introduction of wildcard prizes and five idea categories. A total of $60,000 in wildcard prizes will be up for grabs to randomly selected ideas that receive over 1,000 votes in the competition,” says Debora Hendrickson, SVP, Customer & Marketing. “We believe introducing “category winners” – Health, Sport & Active Living; Environment & Sustainability; Animal Welfare; Schools & Education; and At-risk Youth – will ensure a diverse set of causes are well represented in 2014.”
“I’ve had a perma-smile on my face since receiving the official phone-call,” says Stephen Darling, President at Stan Darling Insurance Inc. and idea creator behind 2013 Aviva Community Fund winner Make a Splash for Stacey in Sundridge, Ontario. “The splash pad will serve as a lasting reminder that great things are achieved when a community works together. It will bring tremendous value – not just by providing a safe place for children of all ages and abilities, but because of the lasting memories it will create for decades to come.”
Darling submitted the idea on behalf of The Make a Splash for Stacey foundation, established in 2013 by Jason Stiller to honour the life of his wife Stacey, a home town girl who lost her battle with cancer in 2012. A dedicated mother and teacher, Stacey had a genuine love for children and the splash pad was chosen as a fitting memorial. The submission won $70,000 from the Aviva Community Fund and helped turn the dream into a reality.
Launched in the fall of 2009, the Aviva Community Fund competition has already provided over $4.5 million in funding to 91 charities and community groups including youth programs, public schools, camps and centres for those affected by disabilities or illness.
In the competition’s first five years, Canadians overwhelmingly answered the call proposing over 7,000 ideas and casting more than 12 million votes in support of causes from every province and territory.
Canadians are encouraged to submit their ideas on the competition website. Visitors to the site are asked to vote for their favourite ideas so they can advance through to the competition’s final round, where they will be evaluated by an independent panel of judges. Year six of the competition kicks off on September 22nd, public voting on ideas starts September 29th. Visit the website for news, to sign up for campaign updates and to learn more about how to get involved. Visit the Aviva Community Fund on Facebook for additional program information.
About Aviva Canada
Aviva Canada is one of the leading Property and Casualty insurance groups in Canada providing home, automobile, recreational vehicle, group and business insurance to more than three million customers. The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-based Aviva plc and has more than 3,000 employees, 25 locations and 1,700 independent broker partners. Aviva Canada and its employees invest in positive change including through the Aviva Community Fund and Eva’s Initiatives, its partner in Aviva’s global Street to School program to help homeless and other at-risk youth reach their potential.
For more information visit AvivaCanada.com.
