Aviva Community Fund: Get Involved!

Have you heard of the Aviva Community Fund competition?  You may know of Aviva Canada Inc as the company that serves more than three million customers, taking care of their property and casualty insurance needs.  But, did you know that they also care about the local communities that they serve and as such, have set up the Aviva Community Fund competition to help Canadians create positive change?  This competition provides Canadians with the opportunity to put forth their own local and national proposals for change and seek funding for it.  These proposals range from ways to care for our environment to helping children in need to supporting culture in our communities and much more.  

 

 

Do YOU have a great idea for positive change in your community?  If you are a Canadian citizen or resident, you can take part in the Aviva Community Fund Competition!  You don't need to be an Aviva customer or to buy anything to participate.  Aviva is looking for ideas that meet the following criteria:  1) It's action oriented.  2)  It's well budgeted.  3) It's Canadian. 4)  It will be well underway by 2013.  To get started, you will need to register in the Aviva Community Fund competition.  Describe your idea and add photos and videos to make it come alive for the voters.  Use social media, word of mouth, community events and whatever other avenues available to promote your idea and get those votes! Find further details here.

 

 

Don't have an idea of your own?  You can still help by having a look at those proposals in the running and voting for the idea of your choice.  Round 1 runs until October 15th.  During this time, any Canadian citizens and residents can vote and the top 90 ideas will move on to the Semi-Finals.  Round 2 takes place from October 22nd to November 5th and once again, Canadian citizens and residents can vote from among the top 90 semi-finalists.  The top 30 will then move to the finals where they will be scored by judges.  There are several opportunities to win including grand prizes, the Broker prize, and an At-Risk-Youth prize.  In addition, any idea that makes it to the finals is guaranteed a minimum of $5000.  All you need to do to vote is to register on the Aviva Community Fund website or through your Facebook account at Facebook.com/AvivaCommunityFund.  You can browse through the entries or search by category, location, or more.

 

I've taken part by voting in the Aviva Community Fund competition for the past few years but this year, I'm especially passionate about it.  A short distance from my home in London, Ontario is the Canadian Deafblind Association's Resource Centre in Paris, Ontario.  The proposed project is to build a sensory garden specifically designed with the deafblind in mind.  This garden would allow visitors to engage their senses of touch, taste, and smell through herbs, scented and edible plants, sculptures including sculpted handrails, water features, and more.  Ramps would ensure wheelchair accessibility.  By the time my own grandmother died at the age of 96, she was legally blind and despite wearing two hearing aids, she had a great deal of difficulty hearing.  I know it had to have been frustrating for her but she was a strong woman who strived to be happy no matter her circumstances.  I just think about how happy this kind of garden would have made her and how much it would have enriched her life to be able to expand her experiences and I so want to help make this a reality for others in her situation. 

 

I encourage you to check out the Aviva Community Fund, Like Aviva Community Fund on Facebook. and Follow @Aviva on Twitter to learn more about the amazing entries in this competition and pick the ones that speak to you.  Or come up with your own great idea and submit it.  When we all get involved, we can create the positive change we want to see in our communities.