August 25, 2022 – MySweetCharity – Jeanne Prejean
According to Stronger Together Breakfast Co-Chairs Purvi Albers and Quincy Roberts, “We are thrilled to chair the first in-person event, benefiting Family Gateway, since 2019! We can’t wait to come together as a community and reflect on everything that has been accomplished in recent years, despite an ongoing pandemic. ‘Stronger Together Breakfast: Celebrating the Power of Community’ will be Friday, October 28, at the Omni Dallas Hotel with featured speaker Chris Gardner. Selwyn Rayzor and Rich Moses are serving as honorary co-chairs.
“Proceeds from the event will support children and families experiencing homelessness in our community who overcome adversity every single day. Your help is now more important than ever. In the first six months of this year, Family Gateway saw more than double the call volume for assistance when compared to the first six months of 2021. We are also seeing more than double the number of families reporting they are sleeping in their vehicles, and the number of families pending an eviction is five times higher.
“At the Stronger Together Breakfast, Chris Gardner, who was a single parent for 25 years and surmounted acute obstacles throughout his life, will share the keys to self-empowerment and a message on beating the odds and breaking the cycle of poverty. Gardner’s childhood was marked by poverty, domestic violence, alcoholism, sexual abuse, and family illiteracy. Gardner never knew his father and lived with his beloved mother when not in foster homes.
“As a new father in 1981, Chris was determined to find a career that would be both lucrative and fulfilling. Fascinated by finance but without connections, an MBA, or even a college degree, Gardner applied for training programs at brokerages, willing to live on next to nothing while he learned a new trade.
“Chris earned a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds training program but became homeless when he could not make ends meet on his meager trainee salary. He went on to work at Bear Stearns & Co. from 1983-1987 where he became a top earner. He then founded the brokerage firm Gardner Rich in Chicago from his home with just $10,000.
“Chris’ story was made into a hit movie, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness,’ which was a huge box office success.
“Family Gateway empowers families who are struggling to find a better life for their children, just like Chris wanted to do. We are proud to walk alongside families in crisis every step of the way. Please make plans to join us and help us continue our mission. Visit familygateway.org/strongertogether for tickets, sponsorships, or more information.”
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