iA Financial Group Unveils the Finalist Organizations Competing to Share $500,000

QUEBEC CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following the launch of the ninth edition of its nationwide philanthropic contest in September, iA Financial Group is unveiling the 12 finalists selected by the jury. The public is invited to vote for four winners, each of whom will receive a $100,000 donation to bring their project to life or further their mission. The eight remaining finalists will each receive support of $10,000.

This year, iA Financial Group is dedicating its philanthropic contest to food insecurity, responding to a critical need in communities. More than 60,000 organizations in Canada are dedicated to this cause.

“The philanthropic contest is a highlight of the year for iA Financial Group’s community engagement in the places where we live and work,” said Denis Ricard, President and CEO of iA Financial Group. “Food insecurity affects millions of Canadians, and this year’s finalists show creativity, compassion, and determination in tackling this issue from all angles. We are proud to support their efforts and invite Canadians to join us in choosing the winning projects.”

Beyond supporting food banks, iA aims to back initiatives that strike at the root of the issue, through solutions such as community agriculture, food recovery, nutrition education, community kitchens, as well as health-, prevention-, and awareness-focused projects.

Starting now and until November 26, 2025, the public is invited to vote at ia.ca/donations-contest for the most inspiring projects across four regions: Quebec, Ontario, Western Canada, and Atlantic/Northern Canada.

iA Financial Group’s 10,000 employees are also invited to take part by voting for their favourite organizations, which will share an additional $20,000. Winners will be announced between December 8 and 12, 2025.

Social engagement
Philanthropy is deeply rooted in iA Financial Group’s culture, supporting causes aimed at improving Canadians’ quality of life through four pillars: health, education, social and community support, and the environment. As part of its social commitment, the company aims to donate 1% of its net earnings annually, and contributed more than $10.4 million to over 600 organizations in 2024.

Launched in 2017 to mark the company’s 125th anniversary, the philanthropic contest has become an annual tradition, with each edition highlighting a different theme.

The 12 finalists and their projects

• Le Pignon Bleu, Quebec City (Quebec)

A $100,000 donation would provide emergency healthy meals to children in 33 disadvantaged elementary schools in the Quebec City area, selected based on socioeconomic indicators. The project targets students at high risk of food insecurity who arrive at school without lunch, supporting their physical and mental health, improving focus and motivation, boosting school perseverance, and reducing stigma—a model that promotes social justice and inclusion.

• La Maison de la Famille de Val-d'Or, Val-d’Or (Quebec)

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.

• Le Sac à dos, Montreal (Quebec)

With $100,000, Le Sac à dos will deploy a food-distribution truck in Ville-Marie, serving 15,000 to 20,000 free hot meals annually to people experiencing homelessness, especially those sleeping outdoors. Operating five evenings per week, the service meets urgent dinner-time needs and creates a first point of trust—key to connecting people to day-centre services and reintegration programs.

• Learning for a Sustainable Future, North York (Ontario)

A $100,000 donation will enable Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF) to mobilize students, educators, and communities nationwide to address food insecurity in schools and neighbourhoods. Through education and student-led initiatives (school gardens, indoor growing, breakfast programs, food drives, etc.), LSF will empower youth to act on urgent sustainability challenges.

• Fred Victor Centre, Toronto (Ontario)

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.

• Food for Life Inc., Burlington (Ontario)

A $100,000 donation will expand the Mountainside Market, a community grocery program serving over 440 vulnerable households weekly (low-income workers, seniors, newcomers, and unhoused individuals), offering fresh groceries valued at $120 per visit. Funding will help transform food surplus into healthy meals and strengthen this dignity-focused food-security model.

• West Central Women's Resource Centre, Winnipeg (Manitoba)

A $100,000 donation will expand The Purple Kitchen, offering cooking classes, meal-planning tools, and food-safety certification to individuals facing systemic barriers. Participants learn to turn food-bank items into nutritious, affordable meals, incorporating culturally appropriate foods for newcomers and Indigenous communities—promoting autonomy, dignity, community connection, and transferable life and job skills.

• Food Link Society, Coquitlam (British Columbia)

A $100,000 donation will expand the Zero Food Waste City initiative in the Vancouver region, adding new distribution points and enlarging the community kitchen to turn imperfect produce into 50,000 prepared meals annually, while strengthening school-meal programs. The project reduces hunger, improves health, builds community, supports climate action, and combats food waste.

• Free Play for Kids Inc., Edmonton (Alberta)

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.

• Greener Village, Fredericton (New Brunswick)

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.

• BGC Moncton, Moncton (New Brunswick)

A $100,000 donation will provide 60,000 healthy meals and snacks annually to children and youth from over 50 nationalities. It will also support the En Route Alternative Education program for students facing hunger and academic challenges, offering tailored learning and pathways toward school reintegration or GED completion in a supportive environment.

• YWCA Halifax, Halifax (Nova Scotia)

A $100,000 donation will support Nourish to Flourish, helping women and children rebuild their lives after violence or housing instability. The initiative provides nutritious food, stocked pantries, essential supplies, and training in meal-planning and budgeting, fostering food security, dignity, autonomy, and hope during times of crisis.

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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