The National Court Reporters Foundation, the charitable arm of the National Court Reporters Association, announced that Jan Ballman, RPR, CMRS, owner of Paradigm Reporting in Minneapolis, Minn., and B.J. Shorak of Vienna, Va., have become the latest donors to NCRF’s Major Gifts program. Ballman currently chairs the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and Shorak is NCRF’s Deputy Executive Director.
Ballman and Shorak join founding contributor Veritext, based in Livingston, N.J., and donors Debra K. and Jeffrey M. Cheyne, from Sherwood, Ore., in supporting the effort.
“In my tenure as the Chair of NCRF, I have had the privilege of a bird’s-eye view as to how the Foundation’s good work supports and promotes court reporting and captioning, a profession that has been very good to me and my family over the past three decades,” said Ballman.
“As such, it felt very good — in fact, great — to give back to this profession by supporting the philanthropic endeavors of the Foundation. I would ask — in fact, challenge — my friends, peers, colleagues, and those who make their living in this industry to consider collaboration with NCRF’s Major Gifts program if this profession has had the same major impact on your life as it has had on mine,” said Ballman.
Major Gifts donors make contributions of $5,000 or more in a calendar year. There are three contribution levels: a Silver contribution, which reflects donations of $5,000 to $24,999; a Gold contribution, which reflects donations of $25,000 to $49,999; and a Platinum contribution, which reflects donations of $50,000 and higher. Donations through the Major Gifts program support all of NCRF’s programs.
NCRF launched the Major Gifts program at the 2015 NCRA Convention & Expo in New York City, where Veritext made a $50,000 donation as a founding donor. The Cheynes, Ballman, and Shorak are each Silver contributors.
“I have been with NCRF since it became an autonomous entity in 1990 and have watched it grow and mature, much the same as a child. My time here has given me the opportunity, no, privilege to work with wonderful and committed volunteers and to develop and grow programs that support an amazing profession. I have benefitted so much, both professionally and personally. NCRF has been a huge part of my life for almost three decades, and this donation could not begin to repay NCRF for all that it has given me,” said Shorak.
Contributors to NCRF’s Major Gifts Program will be required to adhere to the program’s donation policy, which includes a review by a Major Gifts Donation Committee, a written agreement by the donor to abide by NCRA’s Constitution & Bylaws and its Code of Professional Ethics, and the agreement to ensure all donated funds are received by NCRF in a specified time. Major Gifts donors who sign up before convention will be acknowledged at convention.
For more information about NCRF’s Major Gifts Program, contact NCRF Deputy Executive Director B.J. Shorak at 703-556-6272 or bjshorak@ncra.org.
