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For the past 13 years, the ACE Foundation – Bermuda has played a significant role as a major philanthropic force in Bermuda. The ACE Foundation supports many Bermuda-based charities as some work to battle many of the island’s social challenges whilst others provide programs that add to the vibrancy of the Bermuda community. In addition, the Foundation supports the community through employee matching gift and volunteer reward programmes, educational programmes and scholarships.
Since its formation in 1997, the Foundation has donated more than $20 million to local charitable causes and projects.
Mission
The ACE Foundation's mission is to strengthen the community by utilizing our financial resources to actively address social, educational and other issues of community concern. The ACE Foundation carries out its mission by:
- Focusing its charitable giving on clearly defined projects and programs with measurable objectives and outcomes that address the areas of education, the environment, and human services and help to enhance the vibrancy of the community.
Providing ACE employees with volunteer and philanthropic opportunities where they can contribute their time and expertise as well as financial support to the community.
Charitable Grants
The core of the Foundation’s work in the community is the ongoing support of Bermuda-based charities. The Foundation provides financial support to up to 75 registered charitable organizations per year, covering a wide range of needs in Bermuda including, health care, human services, education, substance abuse, arts and culture and the environment. The administration of the Foundation’s annual grants takes up the bulk of the work for the ACE Foundation. The size of the grant awards range from $500 to $500,000.
The ACE Foundation uses a grant application form designed to assist charities to focus on setting attainable goals with expected outcomes. The Foundation places a strong emphasis on those charities that are able to clearly demonstrate these assets as well as a focus on social needs. The Foundation staff is available to assist charities through the application process. Click here for the ACE Foundation grant application form.
Educational Programmes
The ACE Foundation – Bermuda supports a number of educational programmes which all work towards a common goal of supporting Bermudians to reach for and attain their career aspirations.
The Robert Clements/ACE Scholarship
The Robert Clements/ACE Scholarship provides financial support to students pursuing careers in the insurance industry. It offers Bermudian students the opportunity to study for undergraduate or graduate degrees in insurance, risk management or actuarial science as well as other disciplines related to the insurance industry including accounting, corporate law and economics. Established in 1996, the Robert Clements/ACE Scholarship offers an annual fully-funded, four-year scholarship at accredited overseas universities. For more information, contact acefoundation@acegroup.com or see the application form.
The Madeline Joell Nest Egg Fund
The Madeline Joell Nest Egg Fund is an annual grant awarded by The ACE Foundation to support Bermuda’s public primary schools in their pursuit of academic excellence. All public primary schools throughout Bermuda are invited to submit applications for funding for up to $10,000 per school. Deadline for submission for each year is the last Friday in November.
Madeline Joell served as Vice President, Marketing at ACE and was a member of the committee that initiated plans for this educational fund. The education of Bermuda’s children was a cause close to Madeline’s heart. Following her untimely death in February 1999, ACE established the fund in her memory.
Criteria
The ACE Foundation will consider a variety of programs or projects that meet the criteria and objectives of the Madeline Joell Nest Egg Fund. The criteria are as follows:
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The project should enhance learning within the individual school
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The project should have clear expected outcomes
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The outcomes should be measurable
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Unique projects would be considered provided they met the goals of the MJNEF – to improve academic excellence
The Foundation invites applications for funding for established programs that have been supported in the past as well as new and unique programs and encourages schools to consider programs or projects that will work best for them. Up to $10,000 will be awarded annually for programs that assist in the promotion of academic excellence in the core disciplines. For more information, contact acefoundation@acegroup.com.
The Duperreault Fellowship
The Duperreault Fellowship endowment was created through donations from the Duperreault Family and the ACE Foundation. It offers an annual scholarship for individuals working in Bermuda’s alcohol and drug prevention and treatment service. Funding is available for health care administrative and clinical leadership training programmes. Duperreault Fellowship information packs and application forms can be obtained from the ACE Foundation or you can also view and print electronic Duperreault Fellowship Application Package and Duperreault Fellowship Application Form.
The Duperreault Fellowship short application form applies to those candidates seeking professional development and training described below under Other Areas of Support. Applications can be made at any time during the year as long as proper notice is given prior to the commencement date of the requested course. Support for these courses will depend on availability of funds. A successful candidate for the type of course described below will not be referred to as a Duperreault Fellow.
Other Areas of Support
The Committee may also consider offering financial support for other areas of educational opportunities should funds be available following the selection of Fellows each year.
- Specialized professional individuals may apply for financial assistance for continuing education units (CEUs) from an accredited institution, or for professional development from a nationally approved provider that will offer CE credits in the area of specialty. The licensing organization would need to confirm that the specific course was an accepted CEU.
The Committee may consider financial assistance for agencies organizing professional workshops.
ACE Foundation Career Fair
The annual student career fair is designed for all high school and senior middle school students. Working with the Ministries of Education and Labour and Training, the Foundation has taken a leading role in developing the career fair at the Bermuda College. Some 55 companies and organizations staff 80 booths which expose the students to the many career opportunities available in Bermuda. Each year an average of 2,500 students (approximately 25% of all students in Bermuda) attend the event which has received Government recognition. This major annual event, led by the Foundation is only possible because of the tremendous financial support from both the public and private sectors and numerous community volunteers.
More information about educational and development opportunities offered by the ACE Group in Bermuda can be found at www.careerpaths.bm.
Employee Programmes
The Foundation also encourages ACE employees to support the community through its internal programmes.
Employee Matching Gifts Programme
The Foundation’s Matching Gift Programme matches up to $5,000 of employees’ personal donations to recognised charities around the world per year.
A Gift for Time Programme
The Gift for Time Programme supports employee volunteerism by donating funds to charities where ACE employees have volunteered their time. $1,000 is awarded to a charity where an employee volunteers for 50 hours or more. $500 is awarded to any charity where an ACE employee has volunteered a minimum of 25 hours a year. A smaller grant of $200 can also be awarded to a charity where an ACE employee has volunteered for more than 10 hours during the year.
Employee Volunteer Programme
The employee programme was launched by the ACE Foundation in June 2007 to commemorate its10th anniversary of supporting the Bermuda community. It is designed to support employees’ volunteer pursuits by enabling them to spend 8 hours per year, during work time, to participate in community volunteer programmes.
The ACE Foundation plans to continue its commitment to the Bermuda community during 2010 and has started working towards the company's 25th anniversary Global Day of Service. We thank our many community partners and ACE’s Employees for their volunteer support. We would also like to thank and encourage the charities in Bermuda for their dedication and commitment to ensuring a vibrant and secure future for our island home.
Contact Information
ACE Foundation - Bermuda
Ralph Richardson, Executive Director
ACE Building
17 Woodbourne Avenue
Hamilton HM08
Bermuda
Mailing Address
PO Box HM 1015
Hamilton HM DX
Bermuda
Telephone: (441) 295-5200
Email: acefoundation@acegroup.com
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