The Christophers Inc

GROUNDED IN JUDEO-CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES, THE CHRISTOPHERS' MISSION IS TO USE ALL FORMS OF MEDIA (RADIO, VIDEO, WEB, PRINT) ALONG WITH LEADERSHIP COURSES, YOUTH CONTESTS, AND OUR CHRISTOPHER AWARDS PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS OF ALL FAITHS TO PUT THEIR FAITH INTO ACTION, AND TO REMIND THEM OF THE GOSPEL-BASED MANDATE, "DO NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD." MOTIVATED BY A LOVE OF GOD AND HUMANITY, ALL PEOPLE CAN BE CHRISTOPHERS - OR CHRIST-BEARERS - IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DAILY LIVES BY SEEING PROBLEMS AND WORKING TO SOLVE THEM WHERE THEY ARE AND AS BEST THEY CAN. CHRISTOPHERS SEE THESE INSTANCES AS OPPORTUNITIES TO BE SOLUTION-ORIENTED ROLE MODELS, SERVING AS SOURCES OF DIVINE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS OF SOCIETAL ILLS AND PERSONAL CHALLENGES. IN FACT, THE CHRISTOPHER APPROACH IS BEST SUMMED UP IN OUR MOTTO, "IT'S BETTER TO LIGHT ONE CANDLE THAN TO CURSE THE DARKNESS." SINCE 1945, WE HAVE USED OUR LITERATURE, BROADCASTS, AWARDS, PRISON MINISTRY, AND YOUTH CONTESTS

INSPIRATIONAL LITERATURE - THE CHRISTOPHERS WRITE AND PUBLISH A WIDE VARIETY OF INSPIRATIONAL AND MOTIVATIONAL LITERATURE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT REFLECTS THE MOTTO CHOSEN BY OUR FOUNDER, FATHER JAMES KELLER: "IT'S BETTER TO LIGHT ONE CANDLE THAN TO CURSE THE DARKNESS." THIS LITERATURE CALLS ON ADULTS AND TEENS TO PUT THEIR FAITH INTO ACTION AND OFFERS ENCOURAGEMENT AND PRACTICAL TIPS TOWARD CREATING A BETTER SOCIETY AND HELPING PEOPLE TO LIVE POSITIVE, HEALTHY, AND PEACEFUL LIVES, EVEN IN THE FACE OF THE TREMENDOUS OBSTACLES THEY MAY FACE. OUR CHRISTOPHER NEWS NOTES ARE PUBLISHED 10 TIMES A YEAR AND ARE AVAILABLE FREE TO PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS. THEY SHARE A UNIVERSAL MESSAGE OF GOD'S HOPE AND LOVE, WHILE ALSO OFFERING POSITIVE GUIDANCE TO HELP INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES TROUBLED WITH THE PRESSING SOCIAL ILLS OF OUR TIME, SUCH AS ADDICTION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, GRIEF, SUICIDE, MENTAL OR PHYSICAL ILLNESS, AGING, DIVORCE, ANGER, SELF-ESTEEM PROBLEMS, LACK OF COMMUNICATION, AND INTOLERANCE. WE PUBLISH OUR ANNUAL "THREE MINUTES A DAY" BOOK OF DAILY STORIES AND PRAYERFUL REFLECTIONS; AN ANNUAL CALENDAR WITH BIBLICAL AND INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES FOR EACH DAY OF THE YEAR; AND PRAYER CARDS THAT PROVIDE HOPE AND GUIDANCE TO ALL. OUR BOOKS AND NEWS NOTES ARE DONATED TO PRISON AND JAIL MINISTRIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND HAVE PROVED TO BE POPULAR SOURCES OF INSPIRATION AND GUIDANCE WITH INMATES. AS ONE PRISONER IN CHICAGO STATED, "IF IT IS FROM THE CHRISTOPHERS, IT IS GOOD." DONATIONS GIVEN FOR CHRISTOPHER MATERIALS HELP FUND FURTHER CHRISTOPHER WORK. HOWEVER, MANY OF OUR MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED FREE TO THOSE IN NEED. OUR SYNDICATED WEEKLY "LIGHT ONE CANDLE" COLUMNS ARE DISTRIBUTED FREE-OF-CHARGE TO NEWSPAPERS AND WEBSITES WHO HAVE REQUESTED TO USE THEM. OUR WEBSITE OFFERS FREE MATERIAL SUCH AS PRAYERS, NEWS NOTES, AND "LIGHT ONE CANDLE" COLUMNS. IN ADDITION, THE CHRISTOPHERS' BLOG REACHES A WIDE-RANGING AUDIENCE WITH POSTS ABOUT POPULAR CULTURE, ORIGINAL INTERVIEWS, AND STORIES OF INSPIRATION. ALL OUR ONLINE ACTIVITIES ARE PROMOTED THROUGH FACEBOOK AND TWITTER LINKS. SPANISH OUTREACH THE CHRISTOPHERS RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING OUR MESSAGE WITH THE SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY, SO WE OFFER SPANISH TRANSLATIONS FOR SOME OF OUR NEWS NOTES AND PRAYER CARDS.

CHRISTOPHER AWARDS - THE CHRISTOPHER AWARDS WERE CREATED IN 1949 BY OUR FOUNDER, FATHER JAMES KELLER, M.M., BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE ARTS, MEDIA, AND POPULAR CULTURE HAD THE POWER TO INFLUENCE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. HE REALIZED THAT WHEN WE'RE EXPOSED TO STORIES THAT SHINE A LIGHT ON OUR STRUGGLES AS WELL AS VIRTUES, LIKE FAITH, COURAGE, HOPE, AND LOVE, WE CAN BECOME MOTIVATED TO BECOME BETTER, MORE SELFLESS PEOPLE. THEREFORE, THE CHRISTOPHER AWARDS HONOR BOOKS, FILMS AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS THAT AFFIRM THE HIGHEST VALUES OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT. THE GOAL OF OUR AWARDS IS TO ENCOURAGE CREATIVE ARTISTS TO PURSUE EXCELLENCE IN ARENAS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO INFLUENCE A MASS AUDIENCE IN A POSITIVE WAY AND TO ENCOURAGE READERS AND VIEWERS TO TAP INTO THE BETTER SIDE OF THEIR HUMAN NATURE BY SEEING POSITIVE EXAMPLES PRESENTED TO THEM IN ENGAGING AND ENTERTAINING WAYS. THE ANNUAL CHRISTOPHER AWARDS CEREMONY IS A HIGH-PROFILE MEDIA EVENT REGULARLY HOSTED BY A FAMOUS TV PERSONALITY. RECENT WINNERS INCLUDE DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER KEN BURNS, "GENERAL HOSPITAL" STAR AND MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE MAURICE BENARD, OLYMPIAN AND ADVOCATE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS ALY RAISMAN, ABC NEWS ANCHORS ROBIN ROBERTS AND LINSEY DAVIS, PLAYWRIGHT AND SONGWRITER LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, AND CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR AND DISABILITY ADVOCATE ANITRA ROWE SCHULTE. DOLLY PARTON IS A FOUR-TIME CHRISTOPHER AWARD WINNER FOR HER TV MOVIES "DOLLY PARTON'S COAT OF MANY COLORS AND "CHRISTMAS OF MANY COLORS, AND SHE HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE AWARD: "I LOVE THE CHRISTOPHER AWARD SLOGAN, 'BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN TO CURSE THE DARKNESS.' I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL MY HEART. I THINK THE MOVIE, 'COAT OF MANY COLORS,' A TRUE STORY FROM MY CHILDHOOD, REALLY DOES THROW A LIGHT ON A LOT OF THINGS LIKE FAMILY, HOPE, LOVE, KINDNESS, UNDERSTANDING, AND ACCEPTANCE. IT REALLY SPOKE TO THE ISSUE OF BULLYING. I AM VERY PROUD AT HOW GOD WORKS THROUGH ME TO SHINE A LIGHT, AND TO HELP HEAL A LOT OF HURT IN A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND I AM VERY PROUD OF THIS AWARD. AND CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHORS HENRY WINKLER AND LIN OLIVER SAID, "RECEIVING THE CHRISTOPHER AWARD FOR OUR FIRST 'HERE'S HANK' BOOK, 'BOOKMARKS ARE PEOPLE TOO,' WAS SUCH A MEANINGFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF OUR COMMITMENT TO GETTING RELUCTANT READERS TO PICK UP A BOOK AND LAUGH THEIR WAY THROUGH IT. WE BELIEVE LAUGHTER IS THE PERFECT LIGHT SWITCH TO ILLUMINATE A CHILD'S PATH INTO LITERATURE. WE WERE HONORED AND GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE BELIEF THAT READING AND EDUCATION CAN LEAD US ALL FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT."

CHRISTOPHER MEDIA: RADIO/PODCAST - "CHRISTOPHER CLOSEUP" HIGHLIGHTS INDIVIDUALS IN A WIDE VARIETY OF FIELDS WHO ACT AS POSITIVE INFLUENCES ON PEOPLE AROUND THEM IN SMALL AND EXTRAORDINARY WAYS. SUBJECTS COVERED INCLUDE SPIRITUAL SOLUTIONS TO EVERYDAY PROBLEMS, MAINTAINING HOPE IN THE FACE OF HARDSHIP, AND CARE FOR THE POOR. *RECENT "CHRISTOPHER CLOSEUP" GUESTS INCLUDE ACTRESS AND SINGER KRISTIN CHENOWETH; BROADCASTER, ENTREPRENEUR, AND ADVOCATE FOR WORKING MOTHERS PAULA FARIS; ABC NEWS ANCHOR AND CHRISTOPHER AWARD-WINNING CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR LINSEY DAVIS; GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING CHRISTIAN SINGER AND MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE MANDISA; COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND DOLLY PARTON; SINGER AND HUMANITARIAN HARRY CONNICK JR.; "GENERAL HOSPITAL" STAR AND MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE MAURICE BENARD; NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR KATE BOWLER; NBC ANCHOR AND FILM PRODUCER RICHARD LUI; AUTHOR AND ANTI-POVERTY ADVOCATE MARK SHRIVER; HALLMARK CHANNEL ACTRESS AND ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION SPOKESPERSON NIKKI DELOACH; ACTOR AND HUMANITARIAN GARY SINISE; ACTRESS/HUMANITARIAN BONNIE HUNT; OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS SCOTT HAMILTON, GABRIELLE DOUGLAS AND SHAWN JOHNSON; SINGER MATT MAHER; AND CBS NEWS' JOHN DICKERSON. EVERYDAY PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE ARE ALSO FEATURED ON THE PROGRAM. RECENT EXAMPLES INCLUDE SISTER LARRAINE LAUTER, FOUNDER OF THE CHARITY "WATER WITH BLESSINGS," WHICH PROVIDES WATER FILTERS TO COMMUNITIES IN IMPOVERISHED COUNTRIES; FATHER GREG BOYLE, FOUNDER OF HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES, WHICH IS THE LARGEST GANG INTERVENTION, REHABILITATION, AND REENTRY PROGRAM IN THE WORLD; AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR DON TATE, WHO SHARES LITTLE KNOWN STORIES FROM AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY; 9/11 SURVIVOR WILL JIMENO, WHO SHARES HIS STORY OF MANAGING PTSD TO HELP OTHERS WORK THROUGH TRAUMATIC SITUATIONS; AUTHOR JIM WAHLBERG, AN ADDICT IN RECOVERY WHO HELPS OTHER ADDICTS FIND HOPE AND HEALING; AND KATHY IZARD, WHO INSTITUTED A PROGRAM TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. THE WEEKLY PROGRAM AIRS ON SIRIUS-XM AND NUMEROUS OTHER STATIONS. THE PROGRAM IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS A FREE PODCAST THROUGH THE CHRISTOPHERS' BLOG AND WEBSITEAND ON OUTLETS SUCH AS APPLE PODCASTS, AMAZON MUSIC, SPOTIFY, AND STITCHER. THE MODERN INCARNATION OF "CHRISTOPHER CLOSEUP" CONTINUES A TRADITION STARTED IN 1952 BY OUR FOUNDER, FATHER JAMES KELLER, WHEN HE BEGAN THE TELEVISION VERSION OF THE SHOW FEATURING SUCH GUESTS AS BOB HOPE, JACK BENNY, BING CROSBY, MARIO LANZA, ART LINKLETTER, AND MORE."CHRISTOPHER MINUTES" ARE ONE-MINUTE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS SENT TO RADIO STATIONS NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING SIRIUS-XM'S THE CATHOLIC CHANNEL. THEY PROVIDE LISTENERS WITH INSPIRATIONAL STORIES AND PRACTICAL ADVICE ABOUT STAYING POSITIVE IN THE MIDST OF ADVERSITY. "CHRISTOPHER MINUTES" ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.TELEVISION SEVERAL CLASSIC CHRISTOPHER FILMS FROM THE 1950'S AIR PERIODICALLY ON EWTN. AND EACH YEAR DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON NUMEROUS TV STATIONS AIR CHRISTOPHER SPONSORED CLAY-ANIMATIONS FOR KIDS CONSISTING OF "THE FIRST CHRISTMAS," "THE CHIMES," "MICHAEL THE VISITOR, AND "MARTIN THE COBBLER."ALL OUR ONLINE ACTIVITIES ARE PROMOTED THROUGH FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

CHRISTOPHER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AND WORKSHOP - THE CHRISTOPHER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM OFFERS WORKSHOPS TO ADULTS AND YOUTH. PARTICIPANTS EXPLORE LIFE'S PURPOSES AND CHALLENGES, BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE, DEVELOP LEADERSHIP QUALITIES, GROW IN FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY, SHARPEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND BECOME MORE OPTIMISTIC. WE HOLD AN ANNUAL WEEKEND LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MARY OF THE LAKE, HOME OF MUNDELEIN SEMINARY AND THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO. MUNDELEIN IS THE LARGEST MAJOR SEMINARY IN THE UNITED STATES AND DIOCESES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY SEND SEMINARIANS THERE FOR FORMATION. BY HOLDING OUR ANNUAL COURSE AT MUNDELEIN, THE CHRISTOPHERS PARTICIPATE IN BUILDING UP THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IN THE CHURCH. IN OUR WEEKEND COURSE AT MUNDELEIN, SEMINARIANS AND LAYPEOPLE ENGAGE IN AN INVIGORATING EXPLORATION OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN A RELAXED AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. DUE TO COVID-19, THERE WERE NO WORKSHOPS IN 2020 OR 2021. BUT IN 2019, WE HELD OUR 27TH ANNUAL LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MARY OF THE LAKE, AND THIS POPULAR COURSE CONTINUES TO CHANGE LIVES AND EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND REMAIN TRUE TO THEIR FAITH. ONE RECENT GRADUATE WROTE, "THIS OPPORTUNITY IS AN INVALUABLE GIFT THAT CHANGES LIVES, MY OWN AND OTHERS. IT'S INSPIRATIONAL TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AS A LIGHT OF CHRIST AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU!!!"PASTORALWE RECENTLY RECEIVED A BEAUTIFUL NOTE FROM A HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN WHO WORKS WITH PATIENTS WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS. HE WROTE TO TELL US OF THE SUCCESS HE'S HAD INCORPORATING OUR THREE MINUTES A DAY READINGS INTO THE SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS HE LEADS ON THE VARIOUS WARDS. HE STARTED WITH THE TEENAGE WARD, WRITING, "IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT ADOLESCENTS CAN BE HARD TO REACH, BUT THE REAL-LIFE STORIES AND THE 'NON-PREACHINESS' OF THE STORIES HAVE WORKED VERY WELL." HE THEN EXPANDED THESE MEDITATIONS TO THE OTHER WARDS AND REPORTS THAT HE'S NOW REACHING HALF THE PATIENTS IN THE ENTIRE HOSPITAL WITH READINGS FROM THREE MINUTES A DAY. THE CHAPLAIN EXPRESSED HOW VITAL OUR THREE MINUTES A DAY BOOKS ARE TO HIS MINISTRY AND REQUESTED COPIES OF OUR 2020 BOOKS, AND WE WERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEND HIM A SHIPMENT SO THAT THIS BEAUTIFUL OUTREACH CAN CONTINUE IN THE COMING YEAR.OUR OUTREACH TO THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES OF PRISON MINISTRY REMAINS A VITAL PART OF THE EFFORT TO BRING HOPE AND HEALING TO PEOPLE ON THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY. WORKING MAINLY THROUGH PRISON CHAPLAINS, WE PROVIDE AN EVER-GROWING LIBRARY OF READING MATERIAL THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF CHRISTOPHER FRIENDS. THIS INCLUDES OUR "THREE MINUTES A DAY" BOOK SERIES, CHRISTOPHER NEWS NOTES, AND A CALENDAR DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE IN JAILS AND PRISONS. COUNTLESS CHAPLAINS, AS WELL AS PRISONERS THEMSELVES, FREQUENTLY CONTACT OUR OFFICE TO EXPRESS THANKS FOR THE MANY DONATED ITEMS WE MAKE AVAILABLE TO THEM. FOR INSTANCE, IN RESPONSE TO ONE OF OUR CHRISTMAS MAILINGS, DEACON PETER ANDRE, DIRECTOR OF PRISON MINISTRY FOR THE DIOCESE OF SAINT PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, WROTE: "ON BEHALF OF A SINCERELY GRATEFUL MINISTRY, I HUMBLY ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF 7 CASES OF WONDERFUL 'THREE MINUTES A DAY' BOOKS, WHICH ARRIVED IN PERFECT ORDER THIS MORNING. WE ARE ACTIVELY PUTTING TOGETHER OUR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS MAILINGS. THESE BOOKS WILL BE THE INTEGRAL PART OF OUR SPECIAL SPIRITUAL 'GIFTS' TO THE INMATES AND EX-OFFENDERS IN OUR CARE. SINCE 1997, WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO PROVIDE INMATES AND EX-OFFENDERS WITH 'TOOLS' ON THE FAITH TO ASSIST THEM (WALKING STICKS IF YOU WILL) ON THEIR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. IN AUGUST OF 1998, THE CHRISTOPHERS BEGAN THEIR LONG AND FAITHFUL, UTTERLY GENEROUS SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR PRISON MINISTRY. HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT! TO YOU, YOUR WILLING STAFF AND ALL YOUR BENEFACTORS, WE SEND OUR PRAYERFUL GRATITUDE; FROM OVERFLOWING HEARTS, WE THANK YOU AND WISH YOU PEACE AND JOY IN THE HOLY ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SEASON STILL TO COME." PRISON MINISTRY FACED CERTAIN CHALLENGES OF ACCESS TO SERVING PRISONERS IN 2020 DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. BULK MAILINGS WERE CURTAILED, WE MADE US UNABLE TO PROVIDE OUR CHRISTOPHER CALENDARS TO INMATES. HOWEVER, WE CONTINUED OUR QUARTERLY MAILINGS TO INMATES ON OUR MAILING LIST, WITH EACH MAILING CONTAINING THREE NEWS NOTES, A PRAYER CARD, AND A NOTE WRITTEN BY FATHER EDWARD DOUGHERTY, M.M.WE SHARE OUR CHRISTOPHER MATERIALS TO A BROAD SPECTRUM OF PEOPLE IN NEED IN ORDER TO BRING THE LIGHT OF GOD'S LOVE TO HIS CHILDREN WHO COULD USE A POSITIVE MESSAGE IN THEIR LIVES.