Christ's Home Schedules Local Speaker

"This story goes from tragedy to triumph," said Vernon Wright, chief development officer with Christ's Home, citing the theme of the organization's upcoming fundraising dinner. The story Wright referred to is now the subject of a feature film based in Lancaster County that is due to be released late this year. "Brave the Dark" is the story of Nate Deen, who began life as Nate Busko and was orphaned at a young age after a tragedy involving his parents. Nate will speak at the organization's upcoming spring dinner because part of his story unfolded at Christ's Home in Paradise.

Nate and his wife, Jessica, had been supporters of Christ's Home for many years, even bringing presents for the children at Christmastime. Several years ago, when the couple attended a fundraising dinner, they met Wright and John Bryant, chief executive officer, and Nate began to tell them of his history with the organization. "We met with him and his wife for breakfast and began to dig into his story," recalled Wright. "We were intrigued by it."

The administrators learned how as a teenager Nate was homeless, living in his car and using school showers as a student at Garden Spot High School. One day, Stan Deen, a teacher at the school, offered him a chocolate bar after class. When Nate found himself in jail only weeks later, Stan visited him, offering him a place to live once he was released. After Stan died in 2016, Nate changed his last name to Deen to honor the man who raised him, and he began working on creating the Stan Deen Foundation. He also wrote the script for "Brave the Dark." "We have stayed in touch with Nate to get to know him better," said Wright.

Stan's involvement in Lancaster County theater had brought him into contact with Glenn and Shirley Eshelman, founders of Sight & Sound Theatres. Stan introduced Nate to Glenn, who offered Nate a job running a spotlight. Nate, who is now video producer for Sight & Sound, has worked there for more than three decades. The Eshelmans will introduce Nate at the dinner and show a recent film that will give the audience a behind-the-scenes look at the workings of the theater.

Christ's Home, with locations in Paradise and Warminster, is a ministry that has been providing care for children since 1903. In the late 1990s, the organization began to work with Bucks, Montgomery, and Lancaster counties to provide services to the children and youth agencies. The Teen/Mother/Baby program in Paradise supports girls who have made a parenting plan and helps teach them parenting skills.

The Christ's Home Spring Dinner will be held at Christ's Home Community Center, 800 York Road, Warminster, on Thursday, May 5, at 6 p.m. Tickets, which must be bought by Thursday, April 21, may be purchased at https://christshome.givecloud.co/springdinner2022 or by calling 215-956-2260 or emailing info@christshome.org.