We are stoked! To get 2023 off to a great start we are thrilled to hear that we have scooped the top prize of €20,000 at the Aviva Broker Community Fund Awards.
We were awarded the donation from Aviva under its Diversity and Inclusion category to support our continual expansion and some of the most disadvantaged students across Ireland, including many DEIS schools. It will also help to widen the programme’s impact and target vulnerable young people from diverse backgrounds.
Limerick-based Financial Advisor, Darragh Goggin of Gallagher Insurance in Newcastle West, who nominated the creative thinking programme said: “As a community-based broker, I know the importance of encouraging our young people to challenge themselves and broaden their experiences as they go through their school career. This is at the core of what The B!G Idea is achieving with its creative thinking programme. It was great to learn that Aviva also saw the huge potential in The B!G Idea and backed this commitment by awarding the organisation €20,000 to support its expansion plans. I look forward to seeing the impact these funds will make to all of our communities.”
The Aviva Broker Community Fund, which is now in its fifth year, provides a unique opportunity for financial advisers and brokers throughout the country to support their chosen local charities or community organisations by nominating them for an award. The awards are sponsored by Aviva Ireland who provide a total prize fund of €120,000 – with a top prize in each of the three main categories of €20,000. The three categories under which organisations entered their projects this year included Climate Action, Diversity and Inclusion and Stronger Communities and the one we were successful in was Diversity and Inclusion.
Niamh Cooney, Head of Development and Sustainability said the prize was a huge boost for our 2023 programme. “We are so grateful to receive this incredible donation from Aviva Ireland and we extend a massive thank you to the company and to Darragh Goggin for nominating us”.
She continued: “Our programme provides a platform for young people to voice their ideas, supporting them to make a real difference in their communities, as proactive citizens. Creative thinking is an in-demand skill, and we work with hundreds of industry mentors each year from a diverse range of industry sectors – from graduates to CEOs, who give our students practical advice and guidance, helping showcase the importance of the skills they are learning. This year, thousands of B!G Idea students are working on innovative solutions for their five chosen issues, all aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The issues that the students have highlighted for 2023 are: displaced people, hidden poverty, climate change, diversity and inclusion and mental health.”
Brian O’Neill, Head of Communications, Sustainability, Brand and Sponsorship at Aviva Ireland said: “We were deeply humbled to hear and see the amazing work that our winning charities and community organisations are involved in and the positive impacts that they have on peoples’ lives. This year we introduced three categories to the fund, that align to our own sustainability ambitions: Climate Action, Diversity and Inclusion and Stronger Communities; all with top prizes of €20,000 with three runners-up in each category each winning €5,000 on the day, as well as an additional €1,000 drawn from a list of other high scoring entries”.
The B!G Idea has already kicked off in schools but there is still time to sign up as a mentor and support students with online feedback. It just takes a couple of hours split across February, March and May. Check out thebigidea.ie for more information or come along to our final online mentor information at 1pm on Wednesday, 8 February.
