Chris Gardner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Gardner
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Gardner in September 2011
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Christopher Paul Gardner
February 9, 1954 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
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| Known for | The Pursuit of Happyness |
| Children | 2 |
Chris Gardner (born February 9, 1954) is an American businessman and motivational speaker. He is famous for his inspiring journey from being homeless with his young son to becoming a successful stockbroker and starting his own company. His life story was even turned into a movie called The Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith.
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Chris Gardner's Early Life
Chris Gardner was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 9, 1954. He was the only boy among his sisters. Chris didn't have a father figure around when he was growing up.
When Chris was eight years old, he and his sisters had to live in foster care for a while. During this time, he met his uncles. His Uncle Henry had a big impact on him, becoming a positive role model when Chris needed one most.
Starting His Adult Journey
Inspired by his Uncle Henry's travels, Chris decided to join the U.S. Navy after high school. He served for four years as a hospital corpsman, which is like a medic.
After leaving the Navy in 1974, Chris moved to San Francisco. He worked with a heart surgeon, Dr. Robert Ellis, helping with important medical research. Chris learned a lot about managing a lab and even helped write articles for medical journals.
Life Changes and Challenges
Chris married Sherry Dyson in 1977. He thought about becoming a doctor, but he realized it would take many years of training. He decided to explore other career paths instead.
Chris later had a son, Christopher Jarrett Gardner Jr., born in 1981. Chris worked as a research assistant, but the pay was low. He then became a medical equipment salesman, which paid more.
One day, Chris saw a man driving a fancy red Ferrari. He asked the man what he did for a living, and the man said he was a stockbroker. This meeting changed Chris's life. He decided he wanted to become a stockbroker too.
Chris met with many stock brokerage firms to learn about their training programs. He quit his sales job to focus on becoming a stockbroker. He got accepted into a training program at E.F. Hutton, but then his hiring manager was fired. This left Chris without a job or a plan.
Around this time, Chris also faced personal difficulties. He was arrested for not paying parking tickets and spent ten days in jail. When he returned home, his apartment was empty. Despite these setbacks, Chris was determined to succeed.
He managed to get into a stockbroker training program at Dean Witter Reynolds. This program didn't pay a salary, so Chris had to work very hard to make ends meet.
Homelessness and Fatherhood
Chris worked incredibly hard to become a top trainee at Dean Witter Reynolds. He arrived early and stayed late, making hundreds of calls to potential clients every day. His hard work paid off when he passed his Series 7 Exam in 1982 and became a full employee. Later, he was hired by Bear Stearns & Company.
About four months after his son's mother left, she returned and left Chris Jr. with Chris. Chris willingly took on the responsibility of being a single father. Even though he had a job, Chris and his son secretly struggled with homelessness for nearly a year.
They slept in different places to find safety: in Chris's office after hours, in motels, parks, airports, and even in a locked bathroom at a train station. None of Chris's co-workers knew they were homeless.
Chris was worried about his son's well-being. He asked Reverend Cecil Williams if they could stay at the Glide Memorial United Methodist Church's shelter. Reverend Williams agreed. Chris Jr. later said he didn't realize they were homeless; he just remembered always moving from place to place.
After Chris found a home, he had another child, a daughter named Jacintha, in 1985. Chris arranged for his children to stay with their mother while he worked long hours.
Becoming a Successful Businessman
In 1987, Chris Gardner started his own brokerage firm called Gardner Rich & Co in Chicago, Illinois. He started the company in his small apartment with just $10,000 and a wooden desk. His company helped large institutions with their financial transactions.
In 2006, Chris sold his share in Gardner Rich in a deal worth millions of dollars. He then became the CEO and founder of Christopher Gardner International Holdings, with offices in major cities.
Chris also traveled to South Africa and met with Nelson Mandela. He discussed plans to invest in South Africa, hoping to create jobs and bring money into the country.
Giving Back to the Community
Chris Gardner is a philanthropist, meaning he gives money and help to many charities. He especially supports the Cara Program and the Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco. This is the same church that helped him and his son when they were homeless.
He has helped fund a big project in San Francisco to create affordable housing and jobs in the very area where he once struggled. Chris also donates clothes and shoes. He helps homeless people and those in need in Chicago find jobs, get career advice, and receive job training.
Chris cares deeply about children's well-being and the importance of fathers being involved in their lives. He is on the board of the National Education Foundation and supports two annual education awards.
Awards and Recognition
Chris Gardner has received many awards for his work and his inspiring story.
- In 2002, he received the Father of the Year Award.
- He also received the Humanitarian Award from the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women.
- In 2006, he received the Friends of Africa Award.
Chris has also been invited to speak at graduation ceremonies, including his daughter's graduation from Hampton University in 2008 and the University of California, Berkeley in 2009.
See also
- Rags to riches
