Chris Gardner
Chris Gardner | |
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Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
Occupation |
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Known for | The Pursuit of Happyness |
Children | 2 |
Christopher Paul Gardner (born February 9, 1954) is an American businessman and
Early years
Gardner was born in
Gardner did not have many positive male role models as a child, as his father was living in Louisiana during his birth, and his stepfather was physically abusive to both his mother and his sisters. Triplett's fits of rage made both Gardner and his sisters constantly afraid.[1] In one incident, Bettye Jean was imprisoned when Triplett falsely reported her to the authorities for welfare fraud; the children were placed in foster care. When Gardner was eight years old, he and his sisters returned to foster care for the second time when their mother, unbeknownst to them, was convicted of trying to kill Triplett by burning down the house while he was inside.[1][2]
While in foster care, Gardner first became acquainted with his three maternal uncles: Archibald, Willie, and Henry. Of the three, Henry had the most profound influence on him, entering Gardner's world at a time when he most needed a positive father figure. However, Henry drowned in the Mississippi River when Chris was nine years old.[3] The children learned that their mother had been imprisoned when she arrived at Henry's funeral escorted by a prison guard.[2]
Despite both her very unhappy marriage and her periods of absence, Bettye Jean was a positive source of inspiration and strength to her son Chris. She encouraged Gardner to believe in himself and sowed the seeds of self-reliance in him. Gardner quotes her as saying, "You can only depend on yourself. The cavalry ain't coming."[4] Gardner also determined from his early experiences that alcoholism, domestic abuse, child abuse, illiteracy, fear, and powerlessness were all things he wanted to avoid in the future.[1]
Early adulthood
Inspired by his Uncle Henry's worldwide adventures in the
Marriage and struggles
On June 18, 1977, Chris Gardner married Sherry Dyson, a Virginia native and an educational expert in mathematics. With his knowledge, experience, and contacts within the medical field, it appeared Gardner had his medical career plans laid out before him. However, with ten years of medical training ahead of him and with changes in health care just on the horizon, he realized that the medical profession would be vastly different by the time he could practice medicine. Gardner was advised to consider more lucrative career options; a few days before his 26th birthday, he informed his wife, Sherry, of his plans to abandon his dreams of becoming a physician.[3]
His relationship with Sherry was detached, in part because of his decision to abandon a medical career and in part due to differences in their behavior. While still living with Sherry, he began an affair with a dental student named Jackie Medina, and she became pregnant with his child only a few months into the affair. After three years of marriage to Sherry, he left her to move in with Jackie and to prepare for fatherhood. Nine years elapsed before he and Sherry were legally divorced in 1986.[3]
His son Christopher Jarrett Gardner Jr. was born on January 28, 1981. Gardner worked as a research lab assistant at
Prompted by his son's inquiries about his father, Gardner had previously been able to track down his biological father via telephone. With a higher income from his new job, Gardner was able to save enough money to travel to Monroe, Louisiana, where he and his son met his father, Turner, for the first time.[3]
Gardner returned to San Francisco determined to succeed at business. A pivotal moment in his life occurred, after a sales call to a San Francisco General Hospital when he encountered an impeccably dressed man in a red Ferrari. Curious, Gardner asked the man about his career. The man told him he was a stockbroker and, from that moment on, Gardner's career path was decided.[4] Eventually, Gardner bought a Ferrari of his own from Michael Jordan.[1] The Illinois license plate of Gardner's black Ferrari reads "NOT MJ".
The stockbroker in the red Ferrari was a man named Bob Bridges. He met with Gardner and gave him an introduction to the world of finance. Bridges organized meetings between Gardner and branch managers at the major stock brokerage firms that offered training programs—such as
It appeared that Gardner got his "break" when he was accepted into a training program at
Gardner returned home from jail to find his apartment empty. With no experience, no college education, virtually no connections, and with the same casual outfit he had been wearing on the day he was taken into custody, Gardner gained a position in Dean Witter Reynolds' stock brokerage training program. However, this offered no salary; apart from selling medical equipment that brought in 300–400 dollars a month in the early 1980s, and with no savings, he was unable to meet his living expenses.[3]
Fatherhood and homelessness
Gardner worked to become a top trainee at Dean Witter Reynolds. He arrived at the office early and stayed late each day, persistently making calls to prospective clients with his goal being 200 calls per day. His perseverance paid off when, in 1982, Gardner passed his
About four months after Jackie disappeared with their son, she returned and left him with Gardner. By then, he was earning a small salary and was able to afford rooming in a flophouse. He willingly accepted sole custody of his child; however, the rooming house where he lived did not allow children. Although he was gainfully employed, Gardner and his son secretly struggled with homelessness while he saved money for a rental house in Berkeley.[citation needed]
Meanwhile, none of Gardner's co-workers knew that he and his son were homeless in the
Concerned for Chris Jr.'s well-being, Gardner asked
After Gardner had found a home, he resumed contact with Jackie and had a second child with her in 1985 – a daughter named Jacintha.
Career as a stockbroker and entrepreneur
In 1987, Gardner established the
After Gardner sold his small stake in Gardner Rich in a multimillion-dollar deal in 2006, he became CEO and founder of Christopher Gardner International Holdings, with offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Philanthropic activity
Gardner is a philanthropist who sponsors many charitable organizations, primarily the Cara Program and the
Dedicated to the well-being of children through positive paternal involvement, Gardner is a board member of the National Education Foundation and sponsors two annual education awards: the National Education Association's National Educational Support Personnel Award and the American Federation of Teachers' Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel Award.[7]
Awards and honors
In 2002, Gardner received the Father of the Year Award from the NFI. He also received the 25th Annual Humanitarian Award from the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women (LACAAW), and the 2006 Friends of Africa Award from the Continental Africa Chamber of Commerce.[7]
In 2008, he spoke at his daughter's graduation from Hampton University. He also served as the commencement speaker for the University of California, Berkeley's Spring 2009 graduation ceremony.[13]
In popular culture
The Pursuit of Happyness
Gardner realized his story had Hollywood potential after an overwhelming national response to an interview he did with
The movie, starring
In the hope Gardner's story would inspire the down-trodden citizens of
Gardner was noticeably absent from the movie's premiere on December 15, 2006. He chose, instead, to be the guest inspirational speaker at a Christmas party for JHT Holdings, Inc., in Kenosha, Wisconsin.[17]
Other appearances
Gardner was featured in the Canadian documentary Come on Down: Searching for the American Dream (2004),[18] where he spoke about the American Dream at his office in downtown Chicago. The documentary also featured Bob Barker and Hunter S. Thompson.
Gardner also made a cameo appearance in the 2008 comedy film The Promotion, where he played a community leader.[19]
Bibliography
- The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
- Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (2009)
- Permission to Dream (2021)
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Oprah Winfrey (December 14, 2006). The Oprah Winfrey Show (TV Show). Chicago, Il.
- ^ a b Barber, Andrew (2006). "Christopher Gardner". aTrader. Archived from the original on June 6, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2007.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-06-074487-8.
- ^ CNN Money. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ "Chris Gardner has pursued happiness, from the Glide soup kitchen to the big screen". sfgate.com. October 10, 2005. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-06-074487-8.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Christopher Gardner: The Official Site". Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-06-074487-8.
- ^ a b c Gandossy, Taylor (December 17, 2006). "From sleeping on the streets to Wall Street". CNN. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-06-074487-8.
- ^ Konkol, Mark J. (December 15, 2006). "'Jesus loves me. He only likes you'". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on March 1, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ Costantinou, Marianne (October 10, 2005). "Chris Gardner has pursued happiness, from the Glide soup kitchen to the big screen". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- UC Regents. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Zwecker, Bill (July 17, 2003). "There's a Way—and Maybe a Will—for Gardner Story". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 36.
- ^ Indo-Asian News Service (October 14, 2006). "Christopher Gardner unimpressed with Will Smith". Newswire. HT Media Ltd. pp. 102 words.
- ^ "News briefs from around Tennessee". Associated Press. December 15, 2006. pp. 788 words.
- ^ AP staff (December 24, 2006). "Man Who Inspired B.O. Hit Skips Opening". Associated Press.
- ^ "Manifestation Television Inc". www.manifestation.tv. Archived from the original on August 27, 2005. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
- ^ "Chris Gardner Media – Videos". chrisgardnermedia.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
External links
- Official website
- Official website (Gardner Rich)
- "Chris Gardner". Author. Harper Collins.
- "The Pursuit of Happyness". Motion Picture. Sony Pictures.
- Capper, Russ (August 2007). "Chris Gardner, The Pursuit of Happiness" (podcast). Interview. Business Makers Radio Show.
- Harrison, P M (March 1, 2013). "Chris Gardner The Pursuit of Happyness : Streets To Stock Broker Companies". Role model. Daily Meditation. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
- Life Re-imagined: Christopher Gardner on YouTube