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Community ideas sought for funding

A Red Deer woman hoping to start a storytelling festival and a Catholic high school wishing to replace old fitness equipment are vying for online voters and the chance to win thousands of dollars.

A Red Deer woman hoping to start a storytelling festival and a Catholic high school wishing to replace old fitness equipment are vying for online voters and the chance to win thousands of dollars.

Leslie Crawford and Notre Dame High School have entered a national competition that requires people to vote for their cause for the chance to win some of the $500,000 that will be distributed next year.

Besides these two contenders, other potential contenders can still enter the Aviva Community Fund competition by Dec. 16.

Crawford would like to start a storytelling festival that would take place in various venues across Red Deer. She would also like to use new technologies to tell those stories.

Her goal is to bring greater tolerance for people of different races, religions and socio-economic status.

To learn more about her proposal and to vote for her, go online at www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf1408

Notre Dame High School wants to replace outdated and broken equipment in its fitness facility. It would also like to expand the fitness centre so it could do a number of programs, such as offering CPR classes and teaching children about overall body image.

To vote for Notre Dame, go online at www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf1231

The Aviva Community Fund allows Canadians to submit ideas and vote for things they would like to change at a local or national level.

Entrants write a brief overview of their cause and identify whether theirs is a Small Idea (under $10,000), a Medium Idea ($10,000 to $50,000) or a Big Idea ($50,000 to $250,000). Both Crawford and Notre Dame have submitted Big Ideas.

The most popular entries will qualify for funding. The winners will be announced on Jan. 25.

“The launch of the Aviva Community Fund reinforces our commitment to leading positive change in both the insurance industry and in the communities where our customers, employees, brokers and partners live,” said Bob Fitzgerald, executive vice-president and chief marketing and underwriting officer for insurance company Aviva Canada.

ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com