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Community Corner

How Danny Gokey Overcame One of Life's Toughest Moments

To honor the memory of his late wife, "American Idol" singer turned the tragedy into a national foundation that is helping children and the less fortunate. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.

About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains.

Danny Gokey is living the American Dream. He was a choir director at his local Milwaukee church when he auditioned for "American Idol," finished in third place in 2009, and parlayed that into a successful country music career in Nashville.

Gokey has a new wife, an infant son and a book ("Hope In Front of Me") expected to be published in October. But with all his success, Gokey still faces the challenge of honoring the memory of his first wife, Sophia, who died young due to complications from a congenital heart disease.

After she died, Gokey started the Sophia's Heart Foundation to bring music, art and hope to the lives of children. Now, in addition to pursuing his growing music career, Gokey spends much of his time expanding the scope and mission of the foundation to touch children and adults in their hearts. And that scope includes a homeless shelter in the greater Nashville area.

"I just look at what's in my heart," Gokey said, when asked how he determines what challenge he should take on next. “I feed on the movement and the music, and what's in my heart. God is also a huge piece of what I do. I follow what he tells me to do — to have a vision, to plan. And, you know, nothing is impossible if you believe in God."

Looking back at the mountains he has climbed personally and professionally, Gokey said. "Not everything has happened the way I wanted it to happen, but it has happened the way it needed to happen."

 Gokey said he doesn't measure success in the numbers of homeless families housed at the Sophia's Heart in Nashville or whether any of the children in the Sophia's Heart art and music programs go on to become professionals. Instead he looks at if he and the foundation are restoring broken lives and giving people skills and a mindset to succeed.

 Are his efforts paying off?

 “I don't know if I've been successful yet," he said. "But I have definitely been blessed to do this work." 

Danny Gokey's new book, "Hope in Front of Me," is now available for pre-sale on Amazon.com. About this sponsorship: Patch has teamed up with Grape-Nuts cereal on this "What’s Your Mountain” campaign to find inspirational stories throughout Wisconsin, and to celebrate folks who have affected positive change in their lives and communities.

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