If you've got a great community project idea now is the time to speak up.
Just days after the official first day of fall, Aviva Canada is welcoming a new season of change with the launch of the second Aviva Community Fund competition. Building on the success of the 2009 campaign, the company has doubled its pledge, offering $1,000,000 to lead, empower and support community initiatives across the country.
Starting now Canadians can submit ideas at www.Aviva-CommunityFund.org 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.
Ideas can be as diverse as the communities they represent. The eight winning ideas in 2009 supported a range of projects including the installation of a youth centre kitchen in Moose Jaw, constructing playgrounds for schools in Brantford, Ontario and Burnaby, BC, and building a lodge for a camp that supports kids touched by chronic illness on Prince Edward Island.
"The people who live in a community know better than anyone how they can improve it and that is what the Aviva Community Fund is all about," says Maurice Tulloch, President and CEO, Aviva Canada. "We've made a global commitment to helping children and families with our Street to School program and the launch of the second Aviva Community Fund competition reinforces that mission here in Canada."
To ensure that all Canadians are able to participate, the Aviva Community Fund web site features an innovative service that ensures the website is fully accessible to individuals with physical disabilities.
Additionally, organizations submitting proposals can now associate their ideas with registered charities.
As the competition progresses, the "vote now" button will be replaced with a "donate now" button. Even if an idea does not garner enough votes to win funding, it can continue leveraging its network to collect donations from supporters.
With the website now accepting 2010 submissions, Canadians are encouraged log on.
To start the process, entrants simply write a brief overview of their idea and identify whether it's a Small Idea (under $25,000), a Medium Idea ($25,000-$100,000) or a Big Idea ($100,000-$500,000). Entrants can upload images and videos to help other Canadians connect with their idea and vote for their cause. The most popular entries will qualify for funding and the best ideas receive financial and practical help.
