The Founder’s Heart
Recipient Stories
The Founder's Heart
moment by moment
photographers' passion
The Founder’s Heart
Advocating for the Communities We Serve
By Michelle L. CramerFounder and Executive Director of On Angels' WingsIt’s hard to believe, but On Angels’ Wings is nearly 11 years old now. When I founded the organization in 2013, I never fathomed the reach that it would have over a decade later, with more than...
My Life-Changing Experience at AFP’s Leadership Cohort
Five days before the deadline, I came across an email in the abyss that is my inbox for an opportunity to attend a leadership cohort hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global Leadership Institute. I didn't know why at the time, but I felt like this...
Celebrating 10 Years : What’s Ahead
When I started On Angels’ Wings 10 years ago, I intended to fill a need in the 417 area. That was my vision, and we did 41 sessions in and around Springfield our first full year. By 2015, we were looking for volunteers in St. Louis because so many of the families we...
In It for the Long Haul
Michelle Slavens, newly "promoted" to Vice President of On Angels' Wings in addition to her Support Coordinator role, reflects upon her nearly nine years with the organization, and her hopes for the future. After nine years with On Angels’ Wings, I’m stepping...
Happy 9th Birthday, On Angels’ Wings!
By Michelle L. Cramer. Founder & Executive Director Nine years. Geez. I know ‘surreal’ gets overused a lot, but that doesn’t diminish it’s meaning for me. It really is hard to believe that On Angels’ Wing has existed for almost a decade. While you might think that...
Why Grief Recovery
By: Michelle L. Cramer, founder & executive director When I began doing bereavement photography nearly 15 years ago, the organization I volunteered for provided pictures for families in their most dire moments of distress, but nothing beyond that. It was so very...
What Makes On Angels’ Wings Different
By Michelle L. Cramer, Founder & Executive Director There are other child bereavement photography services out there, but we stand out in a few ways. On Angels’ Wings is by no means competing with these other organizations. Our intention is to fill the gaps,...
No One Wants to Talk About it….
By Michelle L. Cramer. Founder & Executive Director I’ve been working with bereaved families for nearly 14 years now and that is the underlying thing I’ve learned – everyone wants to pretend that babies don’t die. Parents suffer in silence because no one wants to...
The Vision
The story behind the founding of On Angels’ Wings By Michelle L. Cramer. Founder & President I’m an empath. There's a lot of hippie-dippy, flighty stuff associated with that word these days. Even googling the definition you'll find references to science fiction...
When None of it Makes Sense….
By Michelle L. Cramer, Founder & President Over the last seven-plus years, On Angels’ Wings has done over 600 photo sessions, working with over 500 families. My heart is with each one of them, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit that some of them gain extra...
A Vivid Reminder
By Michelle L. Cramer, Founder & President Early this morning, I went on a session for On Angels' Wings to take pictures for a family whose baby was born still on Lincoln's birthday. As I drove home the sunrise was stunning and I stopped to get a picture and...
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