Canadian Youth Are the Big Winners in the Aviva Community Fund

Company Reaffirms Commitment to Positive Change with $500,000 Payout to Community Programs Across the Country

TORONTO , Jan. 25 /CNW/ - From more than 2,000 ideas submitted across the nation, Aviva Canada Inc. today announced the eight winning entries for the first ever Aviva Community Fund - a unique competition designed to lead, empower and support positive change in communities across the country.

Launched in October 2009 , the heart of the Aviva Community Fund was centred around an online portal - www.avivacommunityfund.org - where Canadians were asked to submit ideas and vote for things that they would like to change at a local or national level. After several rounds of voting to identify Canada's most popular causes, the Top 25 ideas were presented to an impartial panel of judges who evaluated the entries and inevitably made the tough decision of recommending which ideas would receive funding.

Mirroring Canada's cultural diversity and celebrating that no two communities are exactly the same, the Aviva Community Fund's winning ideas come from as far East as Malpeque, Prince Edward Island , and as far West as Burnaby, British Columbia - making a total six stops in between.

"The team at Aviva has been truly inspired by Canada's passion for positive change, with communities proposing over 2,000 ideas and casting more than two million votes over the course of the competition," said Maurice Tulloch , President and CEO, Aviva Canada . "The success of this program reinforces our commitment to leading positive change in both the insurance industry and in the communities where our customers, employees, brokers and partners live, work and play."

Aviva Canada congratulates the winners of the Aviva Community Fund:

    
    Big Ideas ($50,000 - 250,000)

    -   Building a lodge for Camp Triumph: Malpeque, PEI - Camp Triumph is an
        adventure camp for kids from families living with chronic illness.
        The Aviva Community Fund will enable this camp to build a lodge for
        indoor activities and therapy programs.
    -   Make Our Dream A Reality: Burnaby, BC - A communal playground shared
        by several schools, including the BC School for the Deaf, is in dire
        need of a makeover. Funding from the Aviva Community Fund will enable
        this community to rebuild the playground with equipment suitable for
        children with special needs.
    -   "Prison Yard" Playground: Brantford, ON - The Aviva Community Fund
        will enable the King George School to finish rebuilding playground
        structures, including an outdoor learning centre.
    -   Scouting's No One Left Behind: National - The No One Left Behind
        program was established in 2007 to ensure that financial barriers
        were not an issue for Canadian children interested in scouting. The
        funding from Aviva Canada will help the Scouts Canada Foundation
        provide girls and boys from low-income families the opportunity to
        belong to a group that teaches important life skills, self esteem and
        community service.

    Medium Ideas (10,000 - $50,000)

    -   Joe's Place - Hungry for Hope: Moose Jaw, SK - Joe's Place Youth
        centre provides guidance, support, and work skills training for
        at-risk youth. The funding from Aviva Canada will be used to build a
        kitchen for Joe's Place as well as install equipment and update the
        youth centre's social areas.
    -   Noel vert pour tous: Montreal, PQ - The Consortium Evolution is a
        not-for-profit organization that develops innovative and
        environmentally friendly solutions. With the funding from Aviva
        Canada, Consortium Evolution plans to collect unused holiday toys
        from Quebec-based schools in an effort to conserve the valuable
        energy and resources that were consumed in their production.

    Small Ideas (up to $10,000)

    -   Charity Champs: Toronto, ON - Charity CHAMPS will build a new online
        community for Canadians aged 13-25 that nurtures and develops
        socially responsible attitudes in youth through microphilanthropy.
    -   Théâtre Multimédia: Montreal, PQ - This unique arts program will
        provide 50 low-income schools within the Point-de-l'Ile School board,
        the opportunity to attend and participate in local theatrical arts
        initiatives.

    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 Contact: Sarah Van Lange, Fleishman-Hillard, Senior Consultant, Desk: [phone] or [phone], [email protected]