The latest news from Aviva in Ireland;
A total of €140,000 has been awarded to fifty-eight charity and community organisations across Ireland through the 2025 Aviva Broker Community Fund.
Following project presentations to a judging panel at Aviva Stadium, Selskar College in Co. Wexford (nominated by Teresa Bruen from Gallagher) won the Community Award, receiving €20,000. The funding will be used 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.
After extensive deliberation, the National College of Ireland’s Early Learning Initiative (nominated by Barry MacDonald from MacDonald
Financial Consultants) and St. Joseph’s Foundation in Co. Cork (nominated by Brian O’Mara from Brown & Brown) were named joint winners of the Charity Award, each receiving €15,000.
For the Early Learning Initiative, the funding will support programmes aimed at improving the educational aspirations and outcomes of children and young people in inner-city Dublin. St. Joseph’s Foundation intends to use the funding to develop an inclusive playground, enhancing respite services for children with intellectual disabilities.
Shortlisted from 155 broker and financial advisor nominated entries nationwide, the finalists outlined how the funding would support essential services and deliver meaningful local impact. Now in its eighth year, the Fund enables brokers and financial advisors across Ireland to champion causes that make a real difference in their communities while securing vital financial support.
Community Organisation Category
Winner — €20,000:
· Selskar College in Co. Wexford
Nominated by Teresa Bruen, Gallagher
Runners‑up — €11,000 each:
· St. Marys Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath
Nominated by Cathal Coyle, Byrne Actuaries
· Clogher Environmental Group CLG, Co. Mayo
Nominated by John Kerrigan, Hastings Insurance
· Charleville First Responders, Co. Cork
Nominated by Keith Kavanagh, McCarthy Insurance Group
Charity Category
· Joint Winners — €15,000 each:
The Early Learning Initiative, National College of Ireland, Co. Dublin
The Early Learning Initiative, National College of Ireland, Co. Dublin
Nominated by Barry MacDonald, MacDonald Financial Consultants Ltd
· St. Joseph’s Foundation, Co. Cork
Nominated by Brian O’Mara, Brown & Brown
Runners‑up — €11,000 each:
· An Cosán, Co. Dublin
Nominated by Des Dillon, Le Chéile Group
· AK Inspired CLG & Scotia Village, Co. Kerry
Nominated by Denis Murphy, Fairstone
Participation Grants
The first 50 eligible entries each received a €700 grant in recognition of the time and effort invested in their submissions.
Judging Panel Feedback
The judging panel comprised of Brian O’Neill (Head of Sponsorship, Sustainability & External Communications, Aviva Ireland), Rachael Larney (Sustainability Executive, Aviva Ireland), Steve McGerr (Sales Director, Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC), Norman Costello (Sales Director, Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland DAC), and guest judge, Bernard Jackman (former rugby player and business consultant). The panel commended the exceptional quality and community impact demonstrated by this year’s finalists.
Brian O’Neill said: “What stood out across all this year’s nominated organisations 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 projects we heard about were targeted, practical and capable of making an immediate difference. It’s a privilege for us at Aviva Ireland to help accelerate work that is already creating real impact on the ground, and we are grateful to every broker and financial advisor who took the time to put these organisations forward.”
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