I had dropped my last fare of the day off at 11:30pm, and was driving my taxi home when rain began to fall. I was glad to be heading home, where it was safe and warm, when I started thinking back to earlier that afternoon…

I happened to catch “Oprah.” Her guest was Will Smith who was there to promote an upcoming film, “The Pursuit of Happyness.”  In the film Will portrays Chris Gardner a single, and homeless father of a five-year-old son. This true rags to riches story shows what success can be had when determination is mixed with a little kindness. Though Chris Gardner was born February 9, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his life really began in San Francisco.

Chris, and his young son, had been spending nights in places like the bathroom at an Oakland BART Station. He was determined to find work and keep his son with him, so when the Rev. Cecil Williams at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, agreed to let them stay at the shelter things began to change.

Mr.Gardner is now the president and CEO of the brokerage firm Gardner Rich & Co. His company donates 10% or more of the company’s earnings toward school and educational projects.

“THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS” will be will released on December 15  

Glide Memorial United Methodist Church