Bealnamulla Ladies Football Club have been selected as one of eight finalists in this year’s Aviva Broker Community Fund Awards.
The South Roscommon-based club is in line to receive a minimum of €10,000 and, if selected as the overall winner in their community organisation category, could come away with €20,000 for their project that is focused on one of three entry categories – Climate Action, Diversity and Inclusion or Stronger Communities. The overall winner will be selected following a presentation to a panel of judges at an event in Aviva Stadium in December.
Bealnamulla LFC, Athlone, nominated by Conor Kelly, of Planalife, Athlone, is steeped in success and history. The club have won countless league titles and cup wins at all age levels, including numerous international honours with teams at under 8s, under 11s, under 12s, under 14s, under 16s and at senior level.
The club is in existence since mid-1990s and is the only all-female football club in South Roscommon with 160 ladies currently registered to play. If awarded funding from the Aviva Broker Community Fund the club is committed to building dressing rooms for their pitch grounds.
There are currently no functioning facilities for the players to use, with only an old shipping container that was decommissioned last year, and which has rotting wood and holes in the floor. Receiving funding towards improving the club and its facilities would positively impact the players, and community in an immeasurable way.
The Aviva Broker Community Fund, which is now in its sixth year, provides a unique opportunity for financial advisers and brokers throughout the country to support their local registered charity or community organisation by nominating them for an award, giving them a much-needed financial boost.
The prize fund, which is managed by Aviva Ireland, who has increased this year’s total prize fund to €135,000, with one charity fund award of €20,000, plus three runners-up receiving €10,000 each and one community organisation/club fund award of €20,000, plus three runners-up receiving €10,000 each. The remainder of the funds will be awarded to 100 early entries to the awards, each of whom will receive €350.00.
“We are delighted to announce this Athlone-based club as one of eight charity/community organisations who have been shortlisted from over 100 entries received. They will receive a minimum award of €10,000 as well as having the potential to win one of two top awards of €20,000, providing much-needed financial support to them.
“We are grateful to all the financial advisers and brokers who have responded in such great numbers by nominating those charity/community organisations that are close to their hearts. We have seen over the years the tremendous work that these organisations do in their local communities, much of which is voluntary, and we are delighted to be in a position to support them financially in their worthwhile endeavours,” Brian O’Neill, Head of Sponsorship, Sustainability & External Communications at Aviva Ireland, said.
