Since 2012, nonprofit organizations and charitable donors across the globe have celebrated Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a movement to kick off the charitable season and takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. On Giving Tuesday 2017 (Nov. 28), 10 Arizona court reporters gathered at the office of Griffin & Associates to make phone calls on behalf of the National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF).
Donations support NCRF’s programs, including scholarships for students; an annual grant for a working reporter in his/her first year out of school; the Oral Histories Program, including the Veterans History Project; and the Legal Education Program.
“What we would love to see as a movement for NCRA is a culture of giving to NCRF and promoting that as something that we all embrace: reporters supporting reporters. [Giving to NCRF] is one way to do it, and we know exactly where our money is going: to our future (students) and doing good (oral histories),” said Pamela Griffin, RPR, CRR, CRC, owner of Griffin & Associates, and her daughter Danielle Griffin, RPR, NCRF Trustee; both of Phoenix, Ariz.
In addition to both Griffins, the callers at the Giving Tuesday Phone-a-thon were:
- Laura Ashbrook, RMR, of Tempe, Ariz.;
- Tammy Pastor, RPR (Ret.), past NCRF Trustee, of Chandler, Ariz.;
- Kate Roundy, RPR, of Phoenix, Ariz.;
- Merilyn Sanchez, FAPR, RMR, CRR (Ret.), past NCRA President and past NCRF Chair, of Chandler, Ariz.;
- Carolyn Sullivan, RPR, of Gilbert, Ariz.;
- Doreen Sutton, FAPR, RPR, and NCRA Vice President, of Scottsdale, Ariz.;
- Teresa VanMeter, RMR, of Gilbert, Ariz.; and
- Wilma Weinreich, RPR, of Phoenix, Ariz.
Combined, this event and NCRF’s annual remote Phone-a-thon hosted by Stenograph in October raised more than $7,000. The callers at the October Phone-a-thon were:
- Kathie Grove, RPR, CRR, CLVS, of Wheaton, Ill.;
- Joan McQuinn, RPR, CMRS, and past NCRF Trustee, of Rockford, Ill.; and
- Jacqueline Timmons, FAPR, RDR, of Darien, Ill.
This year’s Phone-a-thon at Stenograph was special because it marked the 10th anniversary of the company hosting NCRF for its annual remote Phone-a-thon.
“We at Stenograph have long been fortunate to have a great relationship and partnership with both the NCRA and the NCRF. We appreciate and support the worthy objectives of the NCRF and are honored to have been able to assist in these efforts for so many years,” said Jeremy Steele, president of Stenograph.
The Griffins emphasized that if the Phone-a-thon callers missed, you can still give to NCRF.
“Many of us are coming to a point in our career where we are ready to retire. Now is the time for that extra push to continue giving and incorporate new ways to contribute. Our family runs on the motto, ‘you get what you give,’” said Griffin and Griffin. “Let’s make this season a giving season, and even if you weren’t able to contribute for the phone-a-thon, the lines at NCRA headquarters are open for donations!”
Donations to NCRF are 100 percent tax deductible as charitable contributions, and donors may make a donation by calling 800-272-6272, or by mailing a check to NCRF at 12030 Sunrise Valley Dr., Suite 400, Reston, Va., 20191. Visit NCRA.org/NCRF for more information.
