84.51 employees make personal impact on community through Degrees of Giving campaign

Whether they’re tutoring students, helping out at the Freestore Foodbank or raising money through a silent auction, employees of 84.51° want to give back to the community. They recently raised $31,000 to benefit eight local nonprofit organizations.

Their volunteer efforts are a part of Degrees of Giving, a employee-led community support program at the downtown market research firm. The program is a year-round initiative for employees to give back to the community.

“There is a lot of passion in the people who work here,” says company spokesperson Ann Keeling. “Getting involved in the community really reflects that. It gives them an opportunity to interact with the community and each other and do something they enjoy.”

Degrees of Giving was inspired by a similar initiative, Helping Hands, when employees operated under Dunnhumby USA before the Cincinnati division was sold to Kroger Co. and became 84.51°.

Each year, employees will nominate local nonprofit organizations they’d like to help and vote on the candidates. Eight are chosen, and from there employees develop the fund and give back in the way that makes sense for each organization.

Although 84.51° itself is only four months old, employees already have events scheduled throughout the rest of the year.

Do Good:

• Follow what 84.51° is up to on Facebook or visit their website.

• Make a difference and volunteer in your own community.