Aviva Canada announced that its $1 million Aviva Community Fund competition is returning for its ninth year, and this year, the property and insurance group is adding a new category to the fund.
The Aviva Community Fund is an online competition that provides funding to charities and community groups across Canada. The fund’s new category, titled Community Legacy, will provide a $150,000 prize to a current or aspiring social entrepreneur, who is between the ages of 18 and 25, and aims to develop an original solution that addresses the consequences of climate change.
“We’re encouraging young social entrepreneurs to present their innovative idea that benefits the environment and help leave a positive legacy for the next 150 years.”
“This new Community Legacy category is a great way for you to be innovative, to be really creative and to think boldly about what you can do,” said Tessica Truong, a social entrepreneur named on the 2016 Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 list. “To tackle an issue like climate change is so critical to our country and to the world. Why not go for it?”
Aviva Canada said that since its launch in 2009, the Aviva Community Fund has awarded $7.5 million to over 250 charities and community groups across Canada.
“This is a special year for Canada, so we’re encouraging young social entrepreneurs to present their innovative idea that benefits the environment and help leave a positive legacy for the next 150 years,” said Debora Hendrickson, senior vice-president of customer and marketing at Aviva Canada. “We can’t wait to see the ideas for this year’s competition.”
In February, Aviva Canada and the DMZ partnered to launch a four-month accelerator program for insurtech startups. Earlier this month, Aviva Canada announced that its corporate fund, Aviva Ventures, will host its second Pitch Day on September 19. At the Pitch Day, 10 Canadian digital startups will pitch to a panel of Aviva advisors for a chance to win up to $10 million CAD.
The Aviva Community Fund will open applications on September 13. To learn more about current and new funding categories, and how to submit an idea, click here.