AIA reveals winners of community grant initiative

AIA New Zealand has announced the winners of the AIA Vitality Business and Community Grant Initiative.

The initiative, which was unveiled in June, aims to help financial advisers make a difference in their local neighbourhoods and highlight the importance of health, wellbeing and overall financial resilience for New Zealanders, AIA said in a statement. Ten winners were selected nationwide, and each will receive up to $50,000 to fund their programmes.

Each winner will also be assigned a mentor from the AIA executive team to assist them in developing and implementing their local initiative, as well as help them get the most out of the grant funding.

The 10 winners and their initiatives are:

• The Adviser Platform in partnership with BBT (nationwide) – country-wide campaign targeted at tradies and focusing on health and safety.
• Kim du Chateau and It’s All Sorted (Auckland) – development of an online app for Sisters United, providing a ‘one stop shop’ digital platform for young women with resources, workshops and a safe, engaging place for youth to build resiliency and positive wellbeing.
• Alan Leuluai and Leuluai Financial (Auckland) – a 12-week fitness programme targeted at Māori and Pasifika communities, including discounted memberships and training support.
• Leelee Li and her team from Millennium Insurance Group (Hamilton) – seminars on depression, diabetes and exercise awareness focused on Hamilton’s Asian community.
• Simon Gower and Millenium Insurance Group (Hamilton) – facilitating learn to swim programmes in low decile schools in Hamilton.
• Hurford Parker Financial Services(Hawke’s Bay) – activation at Hawke’s Bay A&P Show to promote mental health awareness.
• Lance Parker-Wadham from Parka Insurances (lower North Island) – championing men’s mental health through a series of events at local venues in partnership with community clubs and motivational speakers.
• Thrive (Manawatu)– pathway programme promoting healthy living and wellbeing in the local agricultural community.
• Dean Logan from Logan Smythe and Associates (Canterbury) – science-backed mindfulness and wellbeing courses to improve community mental, emotional and physical wellbeing in conjunction with Community Wellbeing North Canterbury and Mindfulness North Canterbury.
• Joel Mclachlan from Advice Kiwi (Canterbury) – establishing a Menzshed in the Waimakariri District to support men’s mental health through providing a place for men to foster friendships and give back to the community.

“It’s been fantastic to see how invested financial advisers are in their local communities, and inspiring to read through the nominations and get a true understanding of how determined people are to make a difference in their neighbourhoods,” said Sam Tremethick, chief partnership insurance officer of AIA New Zealand.

“It wasn’t easy to pick 10 AIA Vitality Grant winners given the quality of the nominations, and we have no doubt those successful will go on to make positive change in their communities.”