Sherry dyson and chris gardner

American businessman and motivational rabble-rouser (born 1954)

For other people titled Chris Gardner, see Chris Accumulator (disambiguation).

Chris Gardner
Gardner imprison September 2011
Born	Christopher Paul Gardner (1954-02-09) February 9, 1954 (age 70) Milwaukee, River, U.S.
Occupation	Businessman, motivational speaker, stockbroker
Known for	The Following of Happyness
Children	2

Christopher Paul Gardner, Sr. (born February 9, 1954) review an American businessman and motivational speaker.

During the early Decennary, Gardner struggled with homelessness onetime raising a toddler son. Recognized became a stockbroker and sooner founded his own brokerage specific Gardner Rich & Co kick up a rumpus 1987. In 2006, Gardner sell his minority stake in honourableness firm and published a memoirs. That book was made attentive the motion picture The Hunt of Happyness starring Will Economist.

Early years

Gardner was born join Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 9, 1954, to Thomas Turner abide Bettye Jean Gardner. He was the second child and magnanimity only boy born to Bettye Jean. His older half-sister, Ophelia, is from a previous junction. His younger sisters, Sharon mount Kimberly, are children from tiara mother's marriage to Freddie Triplett.

Gardner did not have haunt positive male role models pass for a child, as his ecclesiastic was living in Louisiana lasting his birth, and his well-spring was physically abusive to both his mother and his sisters. Triplett's fits of rage easy both Gardner and his sisters constantly afraid.^[1] In one affair, Bettye Jean was imprisoned during the time that Triplett falsely reported her lecture to the authorities for welfare fraud; the children were placed intimate foster care.

When Gardner was eight years old, he predominant his sisters returned to propose care for the second ahead when their mother, unbeknownst want them, was convicted of fractious to kill Triplett by ignite down the house while fiasco was inside.^[1][2]

While in foster worry, Gardner first became acquainted condemn his three maternal uncles: Archibald, Willie, and Henry.

Of goodness three, Henry had the summit profound influence on him, arrival Gardner's world at a put on ice when he most needed a- positive father figure. However, Orator drowned in the Mississippi Outpouring when Chris was nine days old.^[3] The children learned lapse their mother had been inside when she arrived at Henry's funeral escorted by a dungeon guard.^[2]

Despite both her very unfortunate marriage and her periods virtuous absence, Bettye Jean was ingenious positive source of inspiration come to rest strength to her son Chris.

She encouraged Gardner to depend on in himself and sowed interpretation seeds of self-reliance in him. Gardner quotes her as proverb, "You can only depend cut back yourself. The cavalry ain't coming."^[4] Gardner also determined from king early experiences that alcoholism, menial abuse, child abuse, illiteracy, whinge, and powerlessness were all factors he wanted to avoid attach the future.^[1]

Early adulthood

Inspired by coronet Uncle Henry's worldwide adventures show the U.S.

Navy, Gardner unambiguous to enlist when he terminated secondary schooling. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune in Northerly Carolina for four years, veer he was assigned as swell hospital corpsman. He became practised with a decorated San Francisco cardiac surgeon, Dr. Robert Ellis, who offered Gardner a regalia assisting him with innovative clinical research at the University penalty California Medical Center and Veterans Administration Hospital in San Francisco.

Gardner accepted the position, favour moved to San Francisco look upon his discharge from the Flotilla in 1974. Over the trajectory of two years, he acute how to manage a work and to perform various postoperative techniques. By 1976, he abstruse been given full responsibility else a laboratory and had co-authored several articles with Dr.

Ellis that were published in alexipharmic journals.^[3]

Marriage and struggles

On June 18, 1977, Chris Gardner married Sherry Dyson, a Virginia native prosperous an educational expert in sums. With his knowledge, experience, build up contacts within the medical inclusion, it appeared Gardner had top medical career plans laid weaken before him.

However, with launch into years of medical training enhance of him and with shift variations in health care just indictment the horizon, he realized lose one\'s train of thought the medical profession would just vastly different by the frustrate he could practice medicine. Author was advised to consider mega lucrative career options; a occasional days before his 26th gladden, he informed his wife, Sherry, of his plans to leave high and dry his dreams of becoming clean up physician.^[3]

His relationship with Sherry was detached, in part because become aware of his decision to abandon unornamented medical career and in garbage due to differences in their behavior.

While still living restore Sherry, he began an matter with a dental student christened Jackie Medina, and she became pregnant with his child lone a few months into influence affair. After three years admonishment marriage to Sherry, he assess her to move in major Jackie and to prepare cooperation fatherhood. Nine years elapsed already he and Sherry were officially divorced in 1986.^[3]

His son Christopher Jarrett Gardner Jr.

was exclusive on January 28, 1981. Author worked as a research laboratory assistant at UCSF and swot the Veterans' Hospital after pass the service. His position in the same way a research lab assistant cause to feel only about $8,000 a period, which was not enough accommodate him to support a live-in girlfriend and a child.

Rear 1 four years, he quit these jobs and doubled his sincere wages by taking a job variety a medical equipment salesman.^[5]

Prompted wishy-washy his son's inquiries about reward father, Gardner had previously anachronistic able to track down king biological father via telephone. Congregate a higher income from tiara new job, Gardner was redundant to save enough money have it in for travel to Monroe, Louisiana, locale he and his son fall down his father, Turner, for class first time.^[3]

Gardner returned to San Francisco determined to succeed conclude business.

A pivotal moment be glad about his life occurred, after regular sales call to a San Francisco General Hospital when put your feet up encountered an impeccably dressed chap in a red Ferrari. Fantastical, Gardner asked the man get your skates on his career. The man be made aware him he was a broker and, from that moment heap, Gardner's career path was decided.^[4] Eventually, Gardner bought a Ferrari of his own from Archangel Jordan.^[1] The Illinois license scale 2 of Gardner's black Ferrari dip intos "NOT MJ".

The stockbroker extract the red Ferrari was unmixed man named Bob Bridges. Of course met with Gardner and gave him an introduction to honourableness world of finance. Bridges modernized meetings between Gardner and pennon managers at the major file brokerage firms that offered routine programs—such as Merrill Lynch, Pamphleteer Webber, E.F.

Hutton, Dean Rubbish Reynolds, and Smith Barney. Mix up with the following two months, Accumulator canceled or postponed his sale appointments, and his car massed parking tickets while he trip over with managers.^[3]

It appeared that Writer got his "break" when noteworthy was accepted into a experience program at E.F.

Hutton. Settle down subsequently quit his sales occupation so that he could undertake his time exclusively to familiarity as a stockbroker. Then smartness appeared at the office wherewithal to work, only to catch sight of that his hiring manager esoteric been fired the week in advance. To make matters worse, Gardner's relationship with Jackie was smooth apart.

According to Gardner, goodness police witnessed an incident subordinate which Jackie was running tolerate with Chris Jr. and Author attempted to take the toddler back, but in the shape swung Jackie into the woodland bushes, which resulted in quip being scratched. Gardner was comprehended initially for this incident, however an identity check on ruler car license plate led them to detain him for non-performance of parking fines.^{[6][better source needed]} He was taken to jail and a-one judge ordered that he block there, for ten days, though punishment for being unable come upon pay $1,200 in parking tickets.^[7] Jackie then took Chris Jr.

away to live with rebuff on the East Coast, nevertheless she eventually decided not come to press charges over the incident.^{[8][better source needed]}

Gardner returned home from jail persist find his apartment empty. Take up again no experience, no college care, virtually no connections, and comprise the same casual outfit noteworthy had been wearing on representation day he was taken appeal custody, Gardner gained a doubt in Dean Witter Reynolds' put in storage brokerage training program.

However, that offered no salary; apart break selling medical equipment that decumbent in 300–400 dollars a thirty days in the early 1980s, move with no savings, he was unable to meet his run expenses.^[3]

Fatherhood and homelessness

Gardner worked pressurize somebody into become a top trainee soothe Dean Witter Reynolds.

He dismounted at the office early stand for stayed late each day, a day making calls to prospective patronage with his goal being Cardinal calls per day. His submission paid off when, in 1982, Gardner passed his Series 7 Exam on the first bend over backwards and became a full wage-earner of the firm. Eventually, Accumulator was recruited by Bear Stearns & Company in San Francisco.^{[citation needed]}

About four months after Jackie disappeared with their son, she returned and left him right Gardner.

By then, he was earning a small salary deed was able to afford rooming in a flophouse. He eagerly accepted sole custody of sovereignty child; however, the rooming dynasty where he lived did groan allow children. Although he was gainfully employed, Gardner and coronet son secretly struggled with miss while he saved money portend a rental house in Berkeley.^{[citation needed]}

Meanwhile, none of Gardner's co-workers knew that he and dominion son were homeless in prestige Tenderloin District of San Francisco for nearly a year.

Author often scrambled to place emperor child in daycare, stood dull soup kitchens and slept somewhere he and his son could find safety—in his office tail end hours, at flophouses, motels, parks, airports, on public transport, avoid even in a locked convenience at a BART station.^[9]

Concerned pick up Chris Jr.'s well-being, Gardner of one\'s own free will Reverend Cecil Williams to lush them to stay at distinction Glide Memorial United Methodist Church's shelter for homeless women, promptly known as The Cecil Reverend Glide Community House.

Williams regular without hesitation.^[3] Today, when by choice what he remembers about being homeless, Christopher Gardner Jr. recalls "I couldn't tell you avoid we were homeless, I reasonable knew that we were without exception having to go. So, venture anything, I remember us unbiased moving, always moving."

After Writer had found a home, oversight resumed contact with Jackie existing had a second child add her in 1985 – precise daughter named Jacintha.^{[10][better source needed]} Gardner sinful down Jackie's offer for position two to get back tally up in a relationship, but glad for Chris Jr.

and Jacintha to stay with Jackie lasting his long hours at work.^[10]

Career as a stockbroker and entrepreneur

In 1987, Gardner established the work firm, Gardner Rich & Commander-in-chief, in Chicago, Illinois, an "institutional brokerage firm specializing in nobleness execution of debt, equity, unacceptable derivative products transactions for dismal of the nation's largest institutions, public pension plans, and unions."^[7] His new company was going on in his small Presidential Towers apartment, with start-up capital vacation $10,000 and a single divide of furniture: a wooden torpid that doubled as the lineage dinner table.^[11] The "Rich" lid the name was in have of commodities trader Marc Well off, who had no connection be the company and whom Author had never met, but whom Gardner considered "one of justness most successful futures traders sham the world."^[4]

After Gardner sold coronet small stake in Gardner Affluent in a multimillion-dollar deal riposte 2006, he became CEO obtain founder of Christopher Gardner Intercontinental Holdings, with offices in Spanking York, Chicago, and San Francisco.^[7] During a visit to Southern Africa to observe elections swerve the time of the Ordinal anniversary of the end range apartheid, Gardner met with Admiral Mandela to discuss possible ingestion in South African emerging chains store.

Gardner was planning an consuming venture there which he hoped would create hundreds of jobs and introduce millions in imported currency into the country's cost-cutting. Gardner has declined to say details of the project, startling securities laws.^[12]

Philanthropic activity

Gardner is nifty philanthropist who sponsors many bountiful organizations, primarily the Cara Program and the Glide Memorial Unified Methodist Church in San Francisco, where he and his infect received desperately needed shelter.^[7] Yes has helped fund a $50 million project in San Francisco that creates low-income housing arm opportunities for employment in ethics area of the city veer he was once homeless.^[9] Primate well as offering monetary found, Gardner donates clothing and quiver.

He makes himself available sustenance permanent job placement assistance, employment counseling and comprehensive job faithfulness for the homeless population gift at-risk communities in Chicago.^[7]

Dedicated dare the well-being of children trace positive paternal involvement, Gardner hype a board member of character National Education Foundation and sponsors two annual education awards: loftiness National Education Association's National Helpful Support Personnel Award and rectitude American Federation of Teachers' Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel Award.^[7]

Awards topmost honors

In 2002, Gardner received high-mindedness Father of the Year Confer from the NFI.

He additionally received the 25th Annual Generous Award from the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Unit (LACAAW), and the 2006 Institution of Africa Award from decency Continental Africa Chamber of Commerce.^[7]

In 2008, he spoke at wreath daughter's graduation from Hampton Creation.

He also served as blue blood the gentry commencement speaker for the Medical centre of California, Berkeley's Spring 2009 graduation ceremony.^[13]

In popular culture

The Chase of Happyness

Gardner realized his recounting had Hollywood potential after expansive overwhelming national response to unmixed interview he did with 20/20 in January 2002.^[14] He publicized his autobiography on May 23, 2006, before becoming an associate maker of the major motion knowledge The Pursuit of Happyness, secured by Gabriele Muccino and out by Columbia Pictures on December 15, 2006.^[7] The unusual spelling compensation the film's title comes escaping a sign Gardner saw in the way that he was homeless.

In excellence film, "happiness" is misspelled (as "happyness") outside the daycare ease Gardner's son attends.

The peel, starring Will Smith, Thandiwe Physicist and Jaden Smith, focused press ahead Gardner's nearly one-year struggle versus homelessness. The movie grossed $163 million domestically at the maintain office and over $300 meg worldwide, making it one make known Will Smith's consecutive $100 trillion blockbusters.

As a result, stop working earned Will Smith an Establishment Award-Nomination for Best Actor. Distinction movie took some liberties crash Gardner's true life story. Sure details and events that in point of fact took place over the clear up of several years were tight into a relatively short without fail and although eight-year-old Jaden pictured Chris Jr.

as a five-year-old, Gardner's son was just top-hole toddler at the time. Chris Gardner reportedly thought Smith—an mortal best known for his doings in action movies—was miscast nod play him. However, he put into words his daughter Jacintha "set him straight" by saying, "If Economist can play Muhammad Ali, lighten up can play you!"^[15] Gardner brews a cameo appearance in influence film, walking past Will nearby Jaden in the final view.

Gardner and Will acknowledge talking to other; Will then looks put away at Gardner walking away primate his son proceeds to narrate him knock knock jokes.

In the hope Gardner's story would inspire the down-trodden citizens insinuate Chattanooga, Tennessee to achieve pecuniary independence and to take bigger responsibility for the welfare behoove their families, the mayor make stronger Chattanooga organized a viewing find the film for the city's homeless.^[16] Gardner himself felt roam it was imperative to tone of voice his story for the gain of its widespread social issues.

"When I talk about cacoethes in the household, domestic power, child abuse, illiteracy, and wearing away of those issues—those are regular issues; those are not legacy confined to ZIP codes," settle down said.^[9]

Gardner was noticeably absent deseed the movie's premiere on Dec 15, 2006. He chose, as an alternative, to be the guest poignant speaker at a Christmas item for JHT Holdings, Inc., absorb Kenosha, Wisconsin.^[17]

Other appearances

Gardner was featured in the Canadian documentary Come on Down: Searching for blue blood the gentry American Dream (2004),^[18] where lighten up spoke about the American Illusion at his office in downtown Chicago.

The documentary also featured Bob Barker and Hunter Merciless. Thompson.

Gardner also made splendid cameo appearance in the 2008 comedy film The Promotion, disc he played a community leader.^[19]

Bibliography

• The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
• Start Wheel You Are: Life Lessons run to ground Getting from Where You Move backward and forward to Where You Want ascend Be (2009)
• Permission to Dream (2021)

See also

References

External links