About – Chris Willis LightShine Foundation

27

Years Of Experience

About Us

The Chris Willis LightShine Foundation

...is a registered Michigan Domestic Private Non-Profit Organization, established on January 20, 1995 by Chris Willis Sr., and was the result of a deep inward compelling to simply begin building a family culture of responsible giving... starting right at home in the hearts and minds of his own two elementary school-age children, which he shares with his wife, Cynthia. Community responsibility and service has been a staple in Chris Sr.'s life generationally, and continues even now as an expected legacy through their grand-children.

We'll all have a place in history; what good and unselfish works will history record about you?
It’s all about positive impact for our lives, and in the lives of others that we share this world with!
Life isn't lived in a straight line: with it's ups, downs, twists and turns...be kind to yourself, and to others. Grace and favor moves mountains!
The world we live in right now is so remarkably challenging, in ways that are unique to each and every one of us. My personal mandate is to model a character and resolve to Bend and NOT Break in doing good and right things. Why? Because there are people and situations waiting to cross paths with US...needing our resources of encouragement, knowledge, time, financial support, prayers, and firm yet compassionate attention. Life can be hard...so let's be the one's who are not just willing...but who are also responsibly able. They're waiting on us...so let's be in our power place, together!

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1995

- Our Journey Was Started. Simply as a result of seeing his own four and five year old children in their school classrooms; having the amazing experience of serving as their school's local community organization President, as well as the Chairman of the 20+ school's area community organization. Experiencing the high times of celebrating a child's excitement after they were able to read, write or finish a task successfully...or managing those low and heart-wrenching times when a child wasn't able to even sit still in class, because of their being hungry. Or maybe even worse, like on the occasion where two little boys were affected at birth by alcohol and drugs that the mother sadly explained had passed through her system and to the boys, before their being born: they just couldn't sit still and focus in class...and were either running around the class, or crying as they squirmed in their seats, sadly. Seeing the kindness of my children...just adapting to these challenges that we grown-ups clearly could see were impacting these young boy's lives...but the children still simply being kind and playful children anyway...the Light of kindness shining brightly in them: this was a major part of the inspiration that compelled Chris Sr. to formally establish this family Foundation. Nurturing a family culture that absolutely includes doing good and being kind, responsibly.

1998

- Life is fragile...and time is fleeting. While working with the County Commisioner's office, the urgency to quickly get positioned both in heart and in practical resources really grew strong in Chris Sr.; and this was partly...and very sadly, driven by his addressing a family and the gathering of several thousand mourners for a young Police Officer who, along with his partner "Lloyd" and others on a radio run, were ambushed with high-powered rifle fire from a suspect van. The young, 23 year old officer was just "Shawn" to his family and friends, but as Chris Sr. stood at the large church's podium to address the family on behalf of the County Commision (with Shawn's flag-draped casket just in front of him, Shawn's family maybe 15 feet from there...and a sea of Police Officers in uniforms representing agencies from throughout the United States and Canada)... something very moving happened. While sharing words of comfort and appreciation for the family's serving with and sharing Shawn in his Police work, those two to three thousand others just went blurry...and the affirming nods from Shawn's family members as they looked Chris Sr. back directly into his eyes appreciatively, galvanized the purpose and value of this Foundation, and its call to be a quiet support of what's good. The words shared by both then-Mayor Dennis Archer as well as our friend... then-Police Chief Benny Napoleon aligned with and confirmed key points in what Chris Sr., too, had already prepared as comforting comments for Shawn's family: the Chris Willis LightShine Foundation's long-term path was now sure.

2008

- There's Power in being both willing AND able! As Chris Sr. was driving on a street named W. 8 Mile Road near the Southfield Freeway, he again had a simple urging inside to just drive over and visit an area family services agency that was nearby...just to ask if there were any things happening that they could use some help with. Some would call it coincidence...other's say it was Providence; either way, it was perfect timing! The receptionist called back to a manager, who came right out to greet and invite Chris Sr. back to her office to speak further. About what, you ask? A young mother with two pre-school aged children, and their emergency safe shelter assistance (from a domestic violence matter) was timing out...and they hadn't been able to locate and secure another safe housing arrangement for this mother and her children..with less than 10 days left for her housing.We were able to immediately offer a 2 bedroom brick frame flat to assist with solving this immediate challenge...which would provide this young family with a clean, safe, private home space...and a formal address needed for the children to be enrolled in school: immediate, practical helps...with dignity! This is why Chris Sr.'s personal mandate to "do good, profitable business...so that we can give more." is the cornerstone for the quiet giving that we've been quietly and privately doing from our own income for over 25 years already. The moral of the story: BEING ABLE ALONG WITH BEING WILLING to help IS THE WINNING COMBINATION! The Foundation's responsible giving is going to keep right on moving and growing; we want you to be a part of our support team, so that we can do even more! How? One way is as easy as your just getting tickets to attend our Lightshine comedy, concert and performing arts events...just like we all do anyway, AND JUST HAVE A GREAT TIME! THAT'S ALL IT TAKES TO HELP US STAY PREPARED TO HELP OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY FAMILY. (And remember, but by the Grace of God it's not us needing right-now help). So, keep watching and listening for our upcoming performance events...and WE'LL SEE YOU THERE!!!

2020

- And again, our World changed: the Global Pandemic from Covid-19. Too often, people tend to take so much for granted: the many "little" things that people in certain countries, areas, communities, and even families don't really think about and appreciate honestly...and these range from clean drinking water; enough food to eat everyday; clean and affordable housing; kindness, attention and healthy social connection with other people; gainful employment; basic financial literacy; even just simple practical things like clean clothes, toiletries, help with essential transportation, and positive interactions from other people. Of course, this list can go on and on...but that's not needed, because the point has been made: these are areas that Chris Sr. calls "right-now help", and they're the low-hanging fruit (so to speak) that are most quickly able to be addressed...and that make a remarkable and immediate positive change in the lives of those who we help with these things. March 2020: the official declaration of Covid-19 as a Global Pandemic is made by our world governments, including here in the United States of America. This thrusts millions of us into a tailspin where our work and income, food and automobile fuel, ability to attend school from K to College, and even childcare services were concerned; not to speak of the devastating impact that was made on the healthcare/hospital industry globally, and which continues as a result of the Pandemic's affects directly (along with other factors, from individual's behavior and decisions to political issues on all levels of government). The bottom line: people around the world are experiencing lack, challenges and needs like this generation has never experienced at such high and deep-reaching levels before! However, the needs aren't just global...they're on-going at the local level, too...right in Your Area, USA. Let's continue to identify exactly what ways fit for each of us to responsibly help others who are struggling through this; we all have something that works for us where we can still be comfortable in our helping out: no judgement...just being honest and for real (keeping it "100" as some say), but absolutely doing something to support the cause of responsible helping of those individuals or families that really need help. Remember, it could have been us...one day it might be us...and our prayer is that it isn't you right now. Do follow and support us in this work that we do of responsible giving...whether it's of time, encouragement, advice and direction, limited emergency funds assistance, and other ways that we continue to give a hand up, with dignity...not a hand out.

2021

- The 8-month miracle! It was July 10, 2021, that Chris Sr. was privileged to meet a man at a gas station in Auburn Hills, Michigan; this man happened to literally be homeless, and simply approached Chris Sr. to ask if he could pump the gas into the car for just a few dollars, to get something to eat. Chris Sr., staying sharply aware of the gentleman and the surrounding area near them, speaks of again having experienced "a moving" in his heart about this man...one borne of a sincerity that Chris Sr. could identify and relate to. After having folded up the "tip" to pay for the fueling help, it was handed to this kind homeless gentleman, who said "thank you so much" and appreciatively began to walk away...when suddenly he stopped, turned, and quickly walked back over to Chris Sr. (a huge smile on this gentleman's face), and simply said "Do you know what you just did? Thank you! Brother, would you take me to (church) services tomorrow?". After his thinking about churches being closed for regular services because of the Pandemic shutdowns, Chris Sr. still agreed to take him the next morning for services...just as an attendee for the live streaming of the service from the church sanctuary, that was being aired online. This was the start of an 8-month journey together for Chris Sr. and this amazingly sincere, kind-hearted and hope-filled gentleman...who happened to be homeless... but saw more and higher for himself: his name..."Cornell"! Just as a point of information...this happened to be the same man that Chris Sr.'s daughter spoke about meeting just weeks ago herself, and was moved in her heart to give him the cold beverage that she had available, just for his refreshing on that hot day...but never got his name! Chris Sr., along with his wife and daughter, became a literal wrap-around support system for "Cornell", and would receive his continual "Thank you so much" and "Your family...you're angels that God really sent to answer my prayers", along with other regular comments of appreciation from him. And thankfully, we were able to immediately secure him a hotel room w/ full kitchen set-up on July 13, 2021 with the backing of our LightShine Foundation's "LightShine Helps" program emergency funding...and fully sponsored his housing expenses there into October...some 12 weeks...while he went through one-on-one counseling, business principle mentorship, work-skills and personal development guidance, and responsibility with accountability training connected to his receiving essential transportation and administrative/vital records assistance. August, 2021: "Cornell" applies to one of the area's popular full-dining restaurants part-time...is hired, and SHINES!!!

2022

- Fact: Right-Now Help Can't Always Wait. Forward to January, 2022: Chris Sr., because he's BOTH WILLING AND ABLE, assists "Cornell" with the entire application process for full-time, union shop employment with a Tier-1 automotive parts manufacturer...and "Cornell" is blessed to be hired there as well: "Won't HE Do It !!!" (Just an inside saying that "Cornell" and Chris Sr. would share!) Finally, March 2022: after 7 months of assisting, guiding, sponsoring, encouraging, transporting, praying with, advocating for, and counseling "Cornell" ...they navigated the difficult and exasperating journey toward securing him permanent housing assistance; and Chris Sr. received an early morning email from a much appreciated housing assistance partnering organization and friend to our Foundation: "Cornell" had just been approved for the long-sought after permanent housing assistance! Chris Sr., along with the Housing Assistance Organization's rep, were absolutely excited for this victory...and the opportunity to finally get "Cornell" into his new apartment in Troy, Michigan. Eight (8) is known as a number indicating "new beginnings"...however that new beginning wouldn't happen for "Cornell" in this 8th month of our journey together: unfortunately, "Cornell" passed away unexpectedly...and we never got to celebrate the move-in to his new place, that Chris Sr. always declared would come if they stayed the course. "Cornell" would often ask if Chris Sr. and he could stop by those places on Baldwin Road or Joslyn Road in Pontiac, Michigan, to encourage and sometimes take something to eat for those still living in those same spots that he shared just months before with them. A strong part of our Foundation's work and mission is to continue to help others that we are compelled to assist...in ways similar to those with "Cornell", as best that we're able to do. Support The Chris Willis LightShine Foundation by attending the events that are brought to you by LightShine Entertainment, which we'll post info about here. Your ticket purchases for a great comedy show, music concert or other performing arts event, are an easy way for you to enjoy yourself...and we'll be able to help other "Cornells" because of your standing with us! Thank you!

How we get it done

The Foundation's funding

for all charitable giving and services that we've been honored to provide, has come directly from income that we have earned through our own personal employment, quietly, since 1995; now, as the need for critical practical help for individuals and families has exponentially increased (especially since the onset of the 2020 Pandemic), the time for us to expand both our activity and ability to assist even more...simply by receiving cooperative help from others... has arrived! We will continue to work, and to do good business, in order to have more to give! That is a personal mandate for the Foundation's founder, and a central part of the founding family's legacy culture.