Community philanthropy: Research, Education and Prevention
The second prong focuses on the development of research, educational and preventive programs. Here, initiatives include funding for education, through scholarships, and for projects that seek to prevent accidents.
Research
The AXA Group has created in 2007 the AXA Research Fund to encourage research in a number of disciplines that touch on the risks, challenges and major transformations that affect our rapidly changing world. The Fund will award 100 million Euros over five years to finance innovative research.
Education
United States
The AXA Foundation's signature program, AXA Achievementsm, provides resources that help make college possible: access and advice.
Access: more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships.
Advice: a comprehensive resource for information to help students and parents plan for college.
Through AXA Achievementsm, AXA Equitable is one of the largest corporate providers of scholarships in the United States. Winners - known as AXA Achievers - are selected on the basis of outstanding personal accomplishment.
China
AXA has developed a number of initiatives in China over the last few years. One of the most significant contributions is the sponsorship of China European International Business School (CEIBS), one of the top business schools in Asia. AXA also continues to fund the endowed HEC chair in international management at Tsinghua - SEM (School of Economic Management). Finally, since 1996 AXA has been financing the China Foundation for Development of Financial Education (CFDFE), which grants scholarships to students who need them the most.
AXA becomes a founding member of ECCLAR
In September 2009, as a founding member, AXA joined the ambitious Euro-China Center for Leadership and Responsibility (ECCLAR) program. Developed within the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) and created by the European Union and China in 1995, the school has become one of the world's leading business schools over the past decade.
Faced with China's growing role in the world, ECCLAR has set itself the objectives of further developing training for responsible Chinese leaders, while improving mutual understanding between Europeans and Chinese over the long term.
To achieve these goals, the Center is committed to four principles, focusing on research, education and training, sharing and distributing knowledge through networking, and producing publications.
A CEIBS partner since 2000, AXA is further strengthening its involvement by sponsoring ECCLAR. And proving its commitment to managing its Asian partnerships responsibly.
To find out more, visit: http://www.ceibs.edu/media/archive/43980.shtml
Preventing accidents
France
AXA Prévention: making the roads safe for motorcyclists
For more than 20 years, AXA France has founded AXA Prévention, a non-profit organization that contributes to the development of responsible behavior through actions aimed at informing and educating the public about the risks of the road. The objective is to get people to make behavioral adjustments needed to make the road safer for themselves and others by reducing the number and severity of accidents.
Ireland
AXA Ireland has been working to encourage road and driver safety since 2000. To date, AXA Ireland has financed seven prevention campaigns and invested more than 4 million euros in initiatives aimed at preventing road accidents. Since 2001, AXA has been a partner of the Roadsafe Roadshow program.
Czech Republic
"On a Green Light" was the name of AXA Czech Republic's campaign, aiming to protect children against road accidents. A battle plan was therefore drawn up, starting off with a test carried out with four primary schools. This involved asking the children to sketch their routes for walking to school and indicate any dangerous points. Their feedback was then submitted to the town councils and police stations concerned. The result: the authorities have adopted a new approach and done everything to improve safety at the dangerous locations mentioned. The outcome from this test has been positive: accident levels have dropped significantly. In 2008, AXA will continue with this campaign, providing funds for the primary and high schools, which will then be able to continue with their prevention initiatives.