More about
Jacintha Darlene Gardner, the daughter of Chris Gardner (Jecky Medina), is Jacintha Darlene Gardner. American businessman, stockbroker and investor Chris Gardner is also a motivational speaker, author, and philanthropist. In 1977, he married Sherry Dyson. Chris Gardner was involved in an affair with Jackie Medina, a dental student. After only a few months, she fell pregnant with their child. He left Jackie after three years of marriage with Sherry to start preparing for fatherhood. Sherry and Chris divorced after nine years. Jacintha and Christopher were Gardner’s children. Jackie and Gardner split later.
Story about her father
Christopher Paul Gardner was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 9, 1954. His childhood was anything but a fairytale. He had an absent father and Betty Jean, his mother, married Freddie Triplett who would profoundly mark Chris’s entire life.
Triplett was abusive towards his children and wife. Triplett even reported Chris’s mother and sent her to prison to work while he received Social Services assistance. Chris and his three sisters were forced to live temporarily in foster homes during that time. Months later Bettye was released but she returned to jail. She tried to set Triplett house ablaze with despair.
But, out of all the suffering, Chris would remember one day forever. He was sixteen years old, and it was Christmas. His stepfather broke into his bathroom and kicked him out.
Chris knew that he wouldn’t become his stepfather after enduring these painful experiences. Instead, he chose to follow the example of his mother.
Chris passed the stockbroker exam after enduring a lot of hardships and proving himself to be a persevering and dedicated intern. He received his licence in 1982. He passed the exam and was able to secure a steady job with a better salary. He was now able to afford rent.
Chris went from being an apprentice without a place to sleep to becoming a respected stockbroker. Even though he was offered a job on Wall Street in New York, he moved to Chicago to start Gardner Rich & Co. in 1987 with a $10,000 initial investment.
Books by her Father
Chris Gardner wrote his memoir in 2006 about his experiences as a homeless man. The Pursuit of Happiness was the title of his memoir. A movie was made from his memoir later that year. The movie had the same name. Will Smith played Garder in this film.
Chris Gardner also wrote a book called Start Where You Are: Life lessons in getting from where you are to where you want to be. This book is more memoir-like than a guide. Gardner, who grew up with very little, writes in this book about how anyone can achieve anything if they focus on what they do have, rather than what they don’t have.
Achievements and Awards
Chris Gardner was awarded the Father of The Year Award in 2002 for his work with the National Fatherhood Initiative. He has also been awarded the 25th Annual Humanitarian Award, and the Friends of Africa Award for his charity work.
Gardner’s most famous book, the Pursuit of Happiness, has won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for a Biography/Autobiography. The film adaptation of Gardner’s book won several awards and was nominated, including the ASCAP Award in Top Box Office Films.
