Degrees of Giving 2025 Highlights

Making people’s lives easier guides the work we do every day. That same ethos carries into our community outreach efforts, where we turn purpose into action for others.

Degrees of Giving, an associate-led initiative, supports charities nominated and voted on by hundreds of 84.51° team members. Each year, hundreds of associates volunteer in dozens of events with our charities, strengthening our impact and connection to the communities we serve. It’s our way of applying our time, talents, and treasure to organizations providing vital services to our friends and neighbors (animals included!) in the places we call home.

Every 84.51° market, from Portland to NYC, operates under a shared goal to uplift nonprofits that make a meaningful difference in our local communities.

Each of the 14 charities was a beneficiary of Degrees of Giving fundraising events in 2024-2025:

• Animal Aid (Portland)

• Big Brothers Big Sisters (Cincinnati)

• Cincinnati Children’s Hospital (Cincinnati)

• Freestore Foodbank (Cincinnati)

• Save the Animals Foundation (Cincinnati)

• Ronald McDonald House (Cincinnati)

• Cincinnati Nature Center (Cincinnati)

• The Dragonfly Foundation (Cincinnati)

• Habitat for Humanity (National)

• Mission OLA (Chicago)

• Inspiration Corporation (Chicago)

• Oyler School (Cincinnati)

• St. Rita’s School for the Deaf (Cincinnati)

• Urban Pathways (New York)

The annual Silent Auction is the largest fundraiser for our official Degrees of Giving Charities. It has taken many forms over the years, but whether it’s held in person, virtually, or a combination of both, associate participation has continued to grow throughout the years.

In 2025, the auction raised over $35,000 from online bids and donations. With the organizational match, the grand total exceeded $50,000! All proceeds go directly to supporting the organizations selected by 84.51° associates.

The 2025 Silent Auction culminated in what can only be described as a spectacle that turned up the heat. Perhaps you could say it put the “degrees” in Degrees of Giving (sorry, couldn’t resist).

A Hot Ones live event featuring Milen, Nick Hamilton, and Catie Doebler brought team members together to watch our fearless leaders battle the Scoville Scale. It’s still unclear who enjoyed it more – the audience or the contestants. Check out the ‘how it started vs. how it ended’ images below and decide for yourself!

A huge shoutout to the architects of this year’s event is in order. For several months, the Silent Auction Team worked tirelessly to obtain donations from local businesses, build the bidding site, and generate anticipation throughout the company.

The 2025 Team Leads were: Amanda Robben, Amy Herzog, Mark McNall, Jill Campbell, Bill McMillin, Mazie Krehbiel, Johnnalee Kutzke, Carlos Garcia, and Marina Antipova. Dozens of other associates helped in various capacities—their selfless contributions are sincerely appreciated!