Five years of supporting what's important to you! The $1,000,000 Aviva Community Fund returns

Year five of the competition starts today

TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2013 /CNW/ - "The response we've had from all over Canada, from customers, business partners, brokers and community groups, has been overwhelming," said Debora Hendrickson, Senior Vice President at Aviva Canada, when asked about the Aviva Community Fund. "The feedback and the positive impact the community groups and charities are having across the country are why we are back for year number five."

Aviva Canada Inc., one of the country's leading providers of home, auto, leisure and business insurance, is pleased to announce the return of the Aviva Community Fund competition. The fifth year of the competition opens today, offering Canadians $1,000,000 to lead, empower and support community initiatives across the country.

Starting today, Canadians can go to AvivaCommunityFund.org to submit ideas that will have a positive effect on their local community. After rallying support from friends, family, neighbours and co-workers, the most popular ideas will have a chance to be funded with the $1,000,000 Aviva Community Fund.

The eleven grand-prize winning ideas in 2012 ranged from a youth centre in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, to a playground in Inuvik, Northwest Territories to a bear rehabilitation centre and sanctuary in Ontario. New to the competition last year, and continuing this year, is each finalist that is not selected as a grand prize winner will receive $5,000 to be awarded to their charity of choice.

Launched in 2009, the Aviva Community Fund competition has already provided over $3.5 million in funding to 61 charities and community groups.

"The opportunity for our brokerage to get involved in making a difference in the community was tremendous," commented Wayne Ezekial, President of AA Munro Insurance of Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia and supporter of 2012 Community Fund winner Undercurrent Youth Centre. "Through working with the Undercurrent Youth Centre, our team has been able to connect with the community and help have an impact on the lives of area youth."

Within the $1,000,000 in funding are specific prizes of up to $150,000 for Canadian community groups or charities that support homeless and at-risk youth programs and for initiatives specifically supported by insurance brokers.

Canadians can access the competition and vote via AvivaCommunityFund.org and Facebook (www.facebook.com/AvivaCommunityFund). Also, for every "Like" the Aviva Community Fund receives on Facebook, $1 will be donated to one of a number of charitable partners.

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, our blog or our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

Video with caption: "Video: Five years of supporting what's important to you! The $1,000,000 Aviva Community Fund returns ". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20130925_C9888_VIDEO_EN_31311.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20130925_C9888_PHOTO_EN_31311.jpg&clientName=Aviva%20Canada%20Inc%2E&caption=Video%3A%20Five%20years%20of%20supporting%20what%27s%20important%20to%20you%21%20The%20%241%2C000%2C000%20Aviva%20Community%20Fund%20returns%20%0D%0A&title=AVIVA%20CANADA%20INC%2E%20%2D%20Five%20years%20of%20supporting%20what%27s%20important%20to%20you%21%20The%20%241%2C000%2C000%20Aviva%20Community%20Fund%20returns&headline=Five%20years%20of%20supporting%20what%27s%20important%20to%20you%21%20The%20%241%2C000%2C000%20Aviva%20Community%20Fund%20returns

Image with caption: "Local youth using the rock climbing wall and skateboard ramp at 2012 Aviva Community Fund winner the Undercurrent Youth Centre in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. (CNW Group/Aviva Canada Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130925_C9888_PHOTO_EN_31320.jpg

SOURCE: Aviva Canada Inc.

Media Contact: 
Glenn Cooper
Senior Manager, Public Relations & Social Media
Aviva Canada Inc.
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