“Acme grupė” Sets a New Record at Its Annual Charity Event, Raising More Than €339,000 at the Good Deeds Fair
The “Acme grupė” community has surpassed last year’s fundraising record. A total of €339,105 was raised at the 11th Good Deeds Fair – the highest amount in the event’s history.
The new record was achieved while continuing the principle that has shaped the fair for more than a decade. During the event, “Acme grupė” employees and partners make donations, and the company adds an amount ten times greater to the total raised. This means that every €10 donated turns into €110, with the final amount becoming the budget for the following year’s Acme Good Deeds social initiatives.
According to “Acme grupė” CEO Sergej Artemiuk, over the past eleven years, not only has the amount raised at the fair grown, but the scale of the initiative itself has expanded as well.
“At the first fair, we raised just over €16,000, while today we have a fund of more than €339,000. This growth is driven by people who return to the fair every year, donate and inspire others through their example. For us, the new record is therefore not primarily about a bigger number, but about having more opportunities to support the organisations we work with,” says S. Artemiuk.
This year, ten non-governmental organisations and initiatives presented their work at the fair: „Vilties liepsna“, „Jaunimo linija“, „Vaikų linija“, „Kauno Moterų linija“, Maltiečiai, „Kelio knyga“, „SOS vaikų kaimai“, club „Eik“, „Lituanica X“ and Kauno tvirtovės VII fortas. They represent a wide range of areas, spanning emotional and social support, education and community initiatives.
More Opportunities to Do Good Every Year
Since the first Good Deeds Fair in 2016, the initiative has grown steadily. This year marked its 11th edition, and for the past five years, a six-figure amount has been raised annually for the Acme Good Deeds fund.
Acme Good Deeds support is directed towards three main areas: education, emotional and physical well-being, and projects that matter to the community, such as support for Ukraine and vulnerable groups in society.
This year, the Good Deeds Fair also introduced a new way to donate. Participants could contribute not only to the general support fund but also choose a specific project run by a non-governmental organisation. The same principle applied to donations collected in boxes placed next to the organisations’ project stories: “Acme grupė” added an amount ten times greater to each sum raised.
“We wanted to give people an even clearer view of where their support goes. When you choose a specific project, you know exactly what kind of change you are contributing to – whether that means hours of emotional support, physical activity sessions for children with disabilities, or a pair of glasses that a child needs. This choice allows people to connect with the work of these organisations in a more personal way,” says Sigita Paulauskienė, Head of Acme Good Deeds team.
Among the specific initiatives presented this year were Maltiečiai’s plan to create an outdoor space for children attending a day centre in Prienai, „Vilties liepsna“ project „Akinukai vaikams“, and the renovation of „Vaikų linija“ call centres in Vilnius and Kaunas. The funds raised for club „Eik“ will help organise physical activity programmes for children with disabilities, while support for „Jaunimo linija“ will help ensure the uninterrupted operation of its emotional support line.
Some of the organisations and initiatives have been supported for several years. As a result, the annual support budget makes it possible not only to contribute to new projects but also to ensure continuity for work that is already underway.
Motorcycle Draws the Most Attention at the Auction
Once again, one of the most anticipated highlights of the fair was the charity auction. The CFMOTO motorcycle attracted the most attention from participants, with a winning bid of €3,300. Another highly popular item was the mysterious black box, which has become an auction tradition and was sold for €3,000 this year.
The fair opened with a drum performance, guests were entertained by an illusionist, and the musical programme concluded with a performance by KTU academic choir „Jaunystė“.
The funds raised this year will be used for social initiatives throughout the coming year. According to S. Artemiuk, the true significance of the fair’s result will become visible when the support reaches the organisations it is intended to help.
“On the evening of the fair, we announce one number, but its real meaning becomes clear later. It may become emotional support for someone going through a difficult time, meaningful education initiatives, or an opportunity for a non-governmental organisation to continue the work it has already started. That is why the record itself matters less to us than how much real impact we will be able to create with the funds raised this year,” says S. Artemiuk.