The Aviva Broker Community Fund has awarded a total of €140,000 to 58 charity and community organizations across Ireland. The fund, now in its eighth year, enables brokers and financial advisors to nominate causes that make a real difference in their communities. This year, 155 entries were received from brokers and financial advisors nationwide, with the finalists presenting their projects to a judging panel at Aviva Stadium.
The Community Award winner, Selskar College in Co. Wexford, received €20,000 to upgrade the school’s practical classroom, creating a safer and more accessible learning environment for all students, including those with additional needs and learners in the school’s autism unit. The funding was made possible through the nomination of Teresa Bruen from Gallagher.
The Charity Award had two joint winners: the Early Learning Initiative at the National College of Ireland and St. Joseph’s Foundation in Co. Cork. Each organization received €15,000 to support their respective projects. The Early Learning Initiative will use the funding to improve the educational aspirations and outcomes of children and young people in inner-city Dublin, while St. Joseph’s Foundation will develop an inclusive playground to enhance respite services for children with intellectual disabilities.
In addition to the main award winners, several organizations received runner-up prizes of €11,000 each. These included St. Mary’s Rochfortbridge in Co. Westmeath, Clogher Environmental Group CLG in Co. Mayo, and Charleville First Responders in Co. Cork. The first 50 eligible entries also received a participation grant of €700 each.
The judging panel commended the exceptional quality and community impact demonstrated by this year’s finalists. Brian O’Neill, Head of Sponsorship, Sustainability & External Communications at Aviva Ireland, said: “What stood out across all this year’s nominated organizations was how deeply each one understands the needs of their community, and how passionately brokers and financial advisors advocated for the causes they nominated.” The Aviva Broker Community Fund is a valuable initiative that supports community organizations and charities across Ireland, and Aviva Ireland is proud to be a part of it.