How 84.51° turns employee passion into community impact

At 84.51°, we believe that the same curiosity and drive our associates bring to their work can be a powerful force for good in the world. The Employee Grant Stipends program—a cornerstone of our Living Our Purpose initiative—turns that belief into action.

Each eligible associate actively engaged with a nonprofit—whether serving on a board, committee or as an event chair—can direct a $1,000 grant to the organization of their choice. The results speak for themselves: here are four recent examples of associates making lasting impact in their communities.

Boone County Arboretum & Friends of Big Bone

Andrew Lightner serves on the board of the Boone County Arboretum, a Level IV-Accredited arboretum whose 121 acres feature more than 30 unique plant collections—including a native grassland, rain garden and butterfly garden—along with a 2.5-mile walking path and recreation fields. This year, 84.51° proudly sponsored the Dogwood Dash, the Arboretum's annual 5K, which drew its largest turnout ever: more than 300 runners and walkers. Festivities continued with an Earth Day celebration and a commemorative tree planting honoring America's 250th anniversary.

Andrew is also a member of the Friends of Big Bone, supporting Big Bone Lick State Historic Site in Union, Kentucky—known as the "Birthplace of American Vertebrate Paleontology." A portion of his grant will help purchase a new bison for the park's herd, improving genetic diversity while connecting visitors to the site's extraordinary Pleistocene-era heritage.

Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of the Midwest (UVSA-MW)

Anna Pham's grant supports Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of the Midwest (UVSA-MW), a nonprofit connecting Vietnamese youth organizations across the Midwest with a mission to develop leadership, share resources, and preserve Vietnamese culture. Anna helped organize the Vietnamese Interacting As One Conference (VIA-1)—a national gathering of students and young professionals focused on collaboration, solidarity, and leadership growth through skill-building sessions, keynote speakers and discussions on issues facing Vietnamese American youth.

Cinema/Chicago — CineYouth Festival

Evan Swhear recently volunteered at the CineYouth Festival, Cinema/Chicago's annual celebration of filmmakers aged 22 and under—now in its 21st edition. Since 2005, CineYouth has provided emerging talent a platform to share their work, connect with fellow filmmakers, and learn from industry professionals through in-theater and online screenings, hands-on workshops, and live Q&As. Evan provided photo support to help showcase the organization's work, and his contributions will be used to promote future events and demonstrate the tangible value of volunteer engagement.

Villa Madonna Academy

Karen Norero directed her grant toward Villa Madonna Academy's investment in STEM education. Through the school's annual VillaRama fundraiser, the K–12 institution raised funds to advance construction of a new STEM wing—designed to offer hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The initiative encourages problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration, preparing students for future academic and professional success while reinforcing the school's commitment to lifelong learning and community leadership.

Purpose in Action

The Employee Grant Stipends program is a testament to the power of employee-driven philanthropy. By enabling associates to direct support toward the causes they lead and champion, 84.51° creates a multiplier effect—turning individual passion into community-wide impact. We're proud to stand behind the people who are already standing up for their communities.