For two decades, the Angel Donor Program has represented the heart of sustained philanthropy for the National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF). This past year, a special milestone was marked as the Foundation recognized its inaugural group of 20-year Angel donors with newly designed commemorative pins.
The Angel program began in 2005, and from the very beginning, the distinctive white Angel pins became a familiar sight NCRA events. As donors reached each five-year milestone, new pins were awarded to recognize their continued commitment. Over time, those pins grew into visible badges of support for the Foundation and its mission.
In 2025, however, 20-year milestone approached without a pin on the immediate agenda. That changed thanks to longtime supporter Melanie Humphrey-Sonntag, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC, an official court reporter from Cheyenne, Wyo., who noticed the gap and stepped forward.
“When I realized the 20-year pins were not on the Trustees’ radar, I volunteered to help,” Humphrey-Sonntag explained. “Jill and Tami agreed to join me, and we designed both the 20- and 25-year pins.” In 2025, all 20-year donors were given or sent a 20-year gift for their generosity.
The collaboration quickly took shape. Humphrey-Sonntag, along with NCRF Director Jill Parker Landsman and Tami Keenan, FAPR, RPR, CPE. worked together on the designs while Parker Landsman handled the logistics of the order. Once pins were ready, Humphrey-Sonntag personally ensured they reached each of the 20-year Angel donors, accompanied by handwritten notes and follow-up messages to confirm delivery.
The response from recipients reflected both gratitude and pride.
“I received the lovely pin from the Foundation, and I will wear it proudly,” shared Ellen Corbett Hannum, RMR, CMRS. “With a sincere heart I wish NCRF continued success.”
Another donor, Anthony John Krause, CLVS, echoed the sentiment simply: “I will wear the pin proudly!”
For Humphrey-Sonntag, the project was about more than a new pin to wear. It was about honoring the donors whose steady support helped the program grow into what it is today.
“The rarity of 20 years of major giving cannot be understated,” she said. “The pins are a public display of support for the Foundation, and I suspect current donors will be eager to reach each five-year milestone — especially to show off their own 20-year pin when the time comes.”
The Angel program itself has come a long way since its earliest days. Humphrey-Sonntag recalled the humble beginnings, when fundraising relied heavily on phone-a-thons and small donations gathered one conversation at a time.
“From the struggling phone-a-thon days where $100 was a giant donation with a cold call, now we have Angels practically rushing to the NCRF booth to pledge $1,000 or more on an ongoing basis,” she said. “That allows the trustees to focus more on philanthropy rather than constant small-scale fundraising.”
That evolution, she believes, speaks to the enduring strength of the program and the leadership that has stewarded it.
“Although I honestly doubted the ‘staying power’ of the Angels program in 2005, I now feel it is the flagship of the Foundation,” Humphrey-Sonntag said. “As one of the 20-year Angels, I simply cannot be prouder of the Trustees’ stewardship of these funds and the growing ripples that have come from the Foundation over all these years.”
To ensure this recognition continues into the future, Humphrey-Sonntag has also volunteered to help track the milestones moving forward.
“I’ve volunteered to ‘mind the pins,’ making sure each donor is recognized annually as they hit their five-year marks,” she said.
For NCRF’s 20-year Angel donors, the new pin represents far more than a milestone marker. It stands as a symbol of loyalty, generosity, and the collective belief that sustained giving can create lasting impact — one year, and one Angel, at a time.
Learn more about the Angel Donor Program.
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