Aviva Makes $500,000 Pledge to "Insure" Positive Community Change

    
    Aviva Community Fund competition empowers Canadians to strengthen
    individual communities from St. John's to Victoria
    

TORONTO , Oct. 21 /CNW/ - Today Aviva Canada Inc. announced the launch of the Aviva Community Fund - a unique competition that will seek to lead, empower and support positive change in communities from St. John's , Newfoundland, to Victoria, British Columbia. Supported by a significant $500,000 pledge from Aviva, the Aviva Community Fund provides a forum where individual Canadians can band together to really make a difference today.

Running until December 16, 2009 , the heart of the Aviva Community Fund is centred around an online portal - www.avivacommunityfund.org - where Canadians can submit ideas and vote for things that they would like to change at a local or national level; whether it be constructing a new playground in your neighbourhood, revitalizing a local community centre or providing much needed support to a national charity - the possibilities are endless. The most popular ideas, as chosen by Canadians, will be evaluated by a judging panel and upon culmination, $500,000 ("The Fund") will be allocated to making the ideas come to life. The Aviva Community Fund winners will be announced on January 25, 2010 .

"Over the past two years, Aviva Canada has been on a mission to change insurance by demystifying our business," said Bob Fitzgerald , Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing & Underwriting Officer at Aviva Canada . "The launch of the Aviva Community Fund reinforces our commitment to leading positive change in both the insurance industry and in the communities where our customers, employees, brokers and partners live.

Taking the company's commitment to change a step further, the Aviva Community Fund enables Canadians to support a cause and become active philanthropists in their own communities. With the fund website now live, the process for submitting ideas and leading positive change is very easy - entrants simply write a brief overview of their cause and identity whether theirs is a Small Idea (under $10,000 ), a Medium Idea ( $10,000-$50,000 ) or a Big Idea ( $50,000-$250,000 ). After registering on www.avivacommunityfund.org, entrants are also encouraged to upload photos, images and unique video content to help describe their idea and attract voters to support their cause. The most popular entries will qualify for funding and Aviva will make sure the best ideas receive the financial and practical help they need to get off the ground.

The Aviva Community Fund officially launched today in Toronto with the immediate donation of $10,000 to build and stock a greenhouse at the George Harvey Collegiate Institute in Toronto , Ontario. The greenhouse will be used to grow vegetables year-round for the school's Jump Start Breakfast Program, which provides a free nutritious breakfast and a warm atmosphere to its less privileged students. Having served over 70,000 breakfasts since its inception 10 years ago, George Harvey C.I.'s Jump Start program feeds approximately 75-100 people per day and is led by the school's loyal staff and a team of students who volunteer their time - five days a week.

Community leaders across Canada are encouraged to visit Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Vimeo for more information as well as www.avivacommunityfund.org to submit their ideas and cast their votes. Idea submissions will be accepted until November 29, 2009 , and semi-finalist causes will be announced in mid-December.

    
    About Aviva Canada
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Aviva Canada Inc. is one of the leading Property and Casualty insurance groups in Canada , providing home, automobile and business insurance to more than three million customers. Our group of companies has more than 3,300 employees, 40 locations and more than 3,000 independent broker partners. Aviva Canada products and services are delivered across the country under the following brands: Aviva, Aviva Pilot, Aviva Traders, Aviva Elite, Aviva Scottish & York and through S&Y Insurance Company. Aviva Canada Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-based Aviva plc, the world's fifth largest insurance group. Please visit our web site at avivacanada.com and our innovative web tool at changeinsurance.ca.

For further information: Media Contacts: Sarah Van Lange, Fleishman-Hillard, Senior Consultant, Desk: [phone] or [phone], [email protected]