[An Appeal for Chef Carl Redding]
I’m Sean Cort. Many of you in the New York tri-state area may remember me as the Gospel music voice on KISS FM back in the late 80’s and early 90’s where I initially met Chef Carl Redding.
Today I am a Publisher and Pastor. In the advent of social media we have all come to a place called a small world. We’ve seen how “years not seen” and “miles not” traveled become “right here and right now.” Social media has introduced us to new friends and shared those new friends with old friends and distant family members.
Before the miraculous footprint of social media we had people who blazed trails socially and were the bridge builders who blurred the lines that defined friendship, family, community and service to others. These bridge builders seemed bigger than life to me and one such person is our adoring big brother known as Chef Carl Redding.
Some know Brother Carl as former Chief of Staff, front man, body guard and driver to Rev. Al Sharpton back in the 90’s. Some have come to know Brother Carl as Executive Chef and owner of Amy Ruth’s Fine Home Style Southern Cuisine in Harlem, NY, whose culinary magic has entranced the palate of virtually every “A-List” Celebrity and Entertainer on the planet.
Besides being a successful restaurateur and philanthropist others may know Brother Carl as Oprah Winfrey’s friend and recurring guest on several top television culinary shows.
Amidst all the celebrity that Brother Carl has enjoyed, no other distinction suits him better than his role of loving son, friend and the owner of the big smile and infectious laugh on the other side of the telephone. Imagine how devastated we would all be if this note started out announcing the passing of this great and loving brother.
Well just within the last month Brother Carl came very close to losing his life had it not been for the decision to have some lifesaving surgery. Carl had to have a below-knee leg amputation on his right leg that has completely turned his life upside down. Carl has lost his employment, his place to live and after his 30-day stay in post-surgery rehabilitation, he will be homeless.
None of us can imagine how one can go from being a bridge builder and successful businessman to having to start completely over. Life is not a fairytale but a reality. It broke my heart to the point of tears when Carl told me of his situation.
So as a friend and brother to this man who has touched so many I ask that we as a community join together and help him divide his sorrow and contribute to multiplying his chances of literally getting back on his feet. “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.”(Luke 6:30-31)
“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God”, (Hebrews 13:6). The word of God is replete with scriptures on giving and most of us know them all. Carl does not have the luxury of pride at this moment. I’ve asked Carl to consider a Go-Fund-Me campaign to help him get back on his feet. He has agreed with me on this and he thanks everyone in advance who helps with this effort.
Please let Carl heal. I humbly asking that you please don’t bombard Chef Carl with phone calls. He really needs us to bombard him with our prayers and donations. He needs our financial support beyond belief so that he can get a place to live with all the amenities that he will need to survive with an amputation, his new prosthetic leg and his new reality in life.
I am praying and hoping that we can raise $50,000 for this campaign. Any monies raised in excess of 50K will help in purchasing a food truck stocked with a commercial kitchen so that Carl can get back to earning a living doing what he does best, cooking and making people say “yeah baby.”
Please Help spread the word!
Sean Cort, President
True Perspective Publishing House
Gofundme for Chef Carl Redding
https://www.gofundme.com/ChefCarlSOS
