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QUEBEC CITY -- (Business Wire)
iA Financial Group is pleased to announce the winning organizations in its ninth annual philanthropic contest. La Maison de la Famille de Val-d’Or (Val-d’Or, Quebec), Fred Victor Centre (Toronto, Ontario), Free Play for Kids Inc. (Edmonton, Alberta) and Greener Village (Fredericton, New Brunswick) will each receive a $100,000 donation to support projects aimed at improving food security within their communities.
“The proposals we receive each year show the extraordinary work charities are doing to improve life in communities across Canada. Our philanthropic contest reflects how we aim to help people and communities and I’m proud that iA Financial Group can support these efforts. I sincerely thank every organization that applied,” said Denis Ricard, President and CEO of iA Financial Group.
This year, iA Financial Group dedicated its philanthropic contest to food insecurity, an urgent issue affecting communities nationwide with more than 60,000 organizations in Canada dedicated to addressing the issue. Alongside food banks, iA welcomed initiatives aimed at long-term solutions, including community growing projects, food recovery programs, nutrition and cooking education, community meal initiatives and health- and prevention-driven efforts.
Hundreds of submissions were received from charities nationwide. A selection committee carefully reviewed each submission to select 12 finalists representing four geographic regions—Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic/Northern Canada—to ensure fair distribution of funds. Canadians were then invited to vote for their organization of choice.
The four charities that receive the most votes will each receive $100,000. The remaining eight finalists will receive $10,000 each, supporting their impactful work in communities. In addition, iA Financial Group’s 10,000 employees were invited to select their four favourite organizations, each of which will receive an additional $5,000.
$100,000 grand prize recipients
A $100,000 donation would strengthen the “Santé que c’est bon dans le bedon” program, offering weekly cooking workshops for families facing economic or social vulnerability, including immigrants and isolated individuals. Funding would supply ingredients for at-home cooking, add a monthly community cooking day, and ensure long-term sustainability, supporting food autonomy, wellbeing, and social inclusion.
A $100,000 donation will help Fred Victor respond to urgent food needs while addressing the root causes of hunger. The funding will support three meals a day in emergency shelters—900 to 1,000 meals daily, rising to 1,500 in winter—for people experiencing homelessness or deep poverty, including newcomers, refugees, and single-parent families. On-site support teams will connect individuals to health and stability resources.
A $100,000 donation will help Food to Play provide daily healthy snacks, weekly workshops, and monthly food hampers to over 700 students in Grades 3–12 in Edmonton. Focused on food literacy, healthy habits, and overall wellbeing, the program fosters positive nutrition relationships, reduces food-related stress, prevents insecurity, and supports inclusion.
A $100,000 donation will support the first year of Thrive, a perishable-food-recovery centre that collects fresh food at risk of waste and transforms it into frozen products for distribution across New Brunswick's food-bank network. This first-in-Canada initiative increases access to fresh food, reduces waste, and could serve as a national model.
The eight other finalists
From health and education to community and environmental initiatives, iA’s annual philanthropic contest is a concrete example of how it supports local communities to Get Ahead and creates lasting social impact, beyond its core business activities.
Our sustainability ambition
To be a company that contributes to sustainable growth and the wellbeing of its clients, employees, partners, investors and communities, iA Financial Group makes sustainability a priority. To guide our day-to-day achievements, we integrate environmental, social and governance factors.
About iA Financial Group
iA Financial Group is one of the largest insurance and wealth management groups in Canada, with operations in the United States. Founded in 1892, it is an important Canadian public company and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IAG (common shares).
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iA Financial Group is a business name and trademark of iA Financial Corporation Inc.
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Contacts:
Chantal Corbeil, Head of Public Affairs
iA Financial Group | chantal.corbeil@ia.ca
Phone: 514-247-0465
Media contact:
Charlotte Hefner, Middle Child, charlotte.hefner@wearemiddlechild.com
Phone: 416‑580‑7727
Source: iA Financial Group
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