84.51° supports meaningful change in local communities through employee grant stipends

At 84.51°, we encourage our team members to contribute to their communities through our Employee Grant Stipends program, a part of our Living Our Purpose initiative. Every 84.51° associate is eligible for a $1,000 stipend to support a charity of their choice, provided they are actively engaged with that organization.

Our team members are making a positive impact by supporting initiatives such as youth programs, local music initiatives, and cancer awareness. Read on to discover how 84.51° associates are using their skills and passions to drive beneficial change and empowerment in their communities.

Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance - Annika Dahlmann

Annika is a data scientist and used her employee grant stipend to support a cause near and dear to her heart.

“After losing my maternal grandma and great grandmother to ovarian cancer, my mother started MIOCA as a way to connect anyone affected by the lethal disease,” Annika said. “During college, I was the president and founder of Next Gen, a sub-branch of MIOCA targeting education of college students.”

Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MIOCA) serves survivors and their families by providing information, resources and support services as well as advocating for increased research and access to care. MIOCA serves the public by educating both women and healthcare professionals to better recognize ovarian cancer symptoms to help save lives through earlier detection. MIOCA is invested in Michigan’s scientific community by awarding ovarian cancer research grants totaling $750,000 to date. What is raised in Michigan, stays in Michigan, as MIOCA works on behalf of the ovarian cancer community.

This year, MIOCA’s annual Mother's Day Time to Teal race took place on May 12 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The community gathered to raise awareness of the Teal Ribbon and raise funds to support MIOCA. The $1,000 donation supported the operations of this race.

Music Fund Cincinnati - John Sandman

John Sandman is a director of product management and is a founder and primary fund provider for Music Fund Cincinnati, which funds local artists to provide ability to create and provide original music to the community.

Music Fund Cincinnati helps local artists by paying for studio time, paying for playing time at events, subsidizing merchandise, supporting local festivals and music venues, such as Whispering Beard Folk Festival and Cabin Fever. They are currently in an agreement to help with a permanent stage at local farm to table venue Carriage House Farms.

The organization works to generate revenue in ways that incorporates local artists and interests. Farm-to-table fundraising dinners (with local artists performing and bourbon raffle fundraising) have been great events bringing their values to life.

Give Back Cincinnati - Anna Demerly

In her free time, business acceleration consultant Anna Demerly serves as the Director of Communications for Give Back Cincinnati – an all-volunteer run organization that offers unique community-based service opportunities to Greater Cincinnati’s young professionals. It is the largest young professional volunteer group in the region.

Anna has been involved with the organization since January 2023, first serving as a general member and now sitting on the board as the Director of Communication.

“I’ve greatly enjoyed being a part of an organization that is so deeply rooted in the Greater Cincinnati community,” Anna said. “As someone who grew up in Cincinnati, I’ve enjoyed getting further involved in our wonderful city and meeting other young professionals dedicated to giving back. I’m incredibly grateful for 84.51°’s contribution to our organization, as it allows us to further increase our impact in the community.”

The PRM Foundation – Dan Pitman

Dan is a senior premedia production artist and was recently elected as a board member of Pleasant Ridge Montessori Foundation. Pleasant Ridge Montessori (PRM) is the only neighborhood Montessori elementary school in Cincinnati Public Schools.

Prior to serving on the board, Dan has been participating in the foundation’s fundraising activities and volunteering at the school since his daughter began attending in 2021.

At PRM, families from all backgrounds and income levels are able to have access to this special form of education. Made up of local community leaders, parents of PRM students, and staff from the school, the Pleasant Ridge Montessori Foundation is a non-profit organization that exists to provide support and funding for programs and services that make the school unique, but can’t always be funded on a typical public school budget.

This year, The PRM Foundation helped make the 6th graders graduation ceremony a memorable event for the students and their families. 84.51°’s donation supported PRM’s 6th grade recognition ceremony by providing refreshments, chairs for more than 350 guests, and a commemorative t-shirt for every 6th grade student and teacher.