publication date: Jun 28, 2012
The hard work was worth it, according to
Dave Nussbaumer, lead organizer of the
Yorkton (SK) Skateboard Park
initiative. "We mobilized the students and entire community, proved that our
project was worthwhile and ended up with $150,000 for a skateboard park in an
area devastated by flooding."
He's talking about his community's award of $150,000 from
the 2011
Aviva Community Fund. The
Yorkton Skateboard Park was one of 12 winners to share in the Fund's $1 million
prize.
The Aviva Community Fund competition will return in the fall
of 2012 with another $1 million to encourage Canadians to lead, empower and
support community initiatives across the country. Whether it's a project that
will help get at-risk youth off the street and back into school, or other ways
to extend a hand to those in need, the Aviva Community Fund enables individuals
and groups to not only submit a community initiative for funding, but also
become actively involved in making change happen.
Launched in the fall of 2009, the competition has already
provided over $2.5 million in funding to 31 charities and community groups,
including youth programs, animal shelters, public schools, camps and centres
for those affected by disabilities or illness.
Designated support
for at-risk youth
New to the competition this year is a specific prize of up
to $150,000 for Canadian community groups or charities that support homeless
and at-risk youth programs. Also within the program again this year is up to
$150,000 in funding for initiatives specifically supported by insurance
brokers.
Canadians are encouraged to submit their ideas at
www.avivacommunityfund.org. Visitors to the site are
asked to vote for their favourite ideas so they can advance through to the
competition's final round, where they will be evaluated by an independent panel
of judges.
Year four of the competition kicks off on September 24,
2012, and public voting on ideas starts October 1.
Visit www.avivacommunityfund.org
for news, to sign up for campaign updates and to learn more about how to
get involved.
