Do you have an idea for positive change that needs funding?

Submit ideas to The Aviva Community Fund by October 2 for a chance to share over $1 million in funding

TORONTO, Sept. 13, 2017 /CNW/ - Aviva Canada announces Canada's longest running online funding competition, Aviva Community Fund, is back again for its ninth year with over $1 million in available funding. Canadians with ideas for positive change in their community are encouraged to submit them by October 2 for a chance to win funding.

"We recognize that the charitable sector is evolving. Emerging new players are redefining the definition of charitable giving and philanthropy. We are adapting to these changes and have expanded eligibility beyond registered charities this year to also include social enterprises, registered B corporations and nonprofits," says Debora Hendrickson, Senior Vice President, Customer & Marketing of Aviva Canada.

Also new to this year's competition is the introduction of Community Legacy ? a category in honour of Canada's 150^th anniversary. Community Legacy encourages seasoned or aspiring social entrepreneurs aged 18 to 25, to submit an original solution that tackles the consequences of climate change. The $150,000 prize for the category is in addition to the share of $1 million from Aviva Community Fund.  

Click here to see a video on how past ACF idea submitters, Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services and Salvation Army Harbour Light, have been positively influencing their community.

Canadians can start making a difference in their community today by submitting an idea to the Aviva Community Fund. Visit avivacommunityfund.org or check out Twitter and Facebook to find out more about the competition.

Notes to editors:

• There are four ACF categories: Community Resilience, Community Health, Community Development and Community Legacy, as well as two funding levels: small ideas for under $50,000 and large ideas for $50,000 to $100,000.
  
  
• Idea submission closes on October 2 and voting begins on October 10, 2017. Finalists will be revealed on November 1 and the winners announced on December 5, 2017.
  
  
• ACF has extended its funding period from one year to two years. This allows ideas that require implementation over a two-year period to apply.

About Aviva Canada

Aviva Canada Inc. is one of the leading property and casualty insurance groups in the country, providing home, automobile, leisure/lifestyle and business insurance to 2.9 million customers. A wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-based Aviva plc, the company has more than 4,000 employees focused on creating a bright and sustainable future for our customers and our communities.

Aviva Canada invests in positive change through the Aviva Community Fund, Canada's longest running online community funding competition, which has awarded $7.5 million to over 250 charities and community groups nationwide since its inception in 2009. Aviva Canada was the first insurer to become a national corporate partner of the Canadian Red Cross' Ready When the Time Comes program, to be there for Canadians when disaster strikes. With a strong commitment to prevention and protection, the company has partnered with the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, and launched the Plan & Protect app, to help Canadians prepare for unforeseen weather events and natural disasters. In 2016, the company was announced as a winner of The Burns & Wilcox Award for Philanthropy & Community Service. At Aviva Canada, protecting the people and things you love, supporting the causes you care about most and strengthening your local community is just good thinking.

For more information visit Aviva Canada's Corporate Responsibility page, or blog, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

SOURCE Aviva Canada Inc.