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ABOUT
THE FOUNDER
Khristopher A. Fields has dedicated over 5,500 hours to voluntary leadership, and it’s the depth and impact of his work—not just the hours—that have earned him nearly 30 awards from the highest levels of government—federal, state, city, and county. His accolades include a Gold Medal and Lifetime Achievement Award from the President of the United States, seven United States Congressional Honors, and an appointment as an Admiral in the Texas Navy by Texas's Governor, among other distinctions. These honors reflect the significance of his voluntary leadership and its power to inspire others to take action.
But for Khris, the real measure of success isn’t in awards—it’s in the impact he’s had on the next generation. His leadership and presence have been instrumental in over 100 young people—including elementary, middle, and high school students—being honored with Presidential Awards, Congressional Honors, and other prestigious distinctions—a testament to his ability to inspire action, foster leadership, and create pathways for youth to be recognized at the highest levels.
At just 27 years old, Khris has built a grassroots movement that flips the script on civic engagement. As the founder of the Wise Up to Rise Up Foundation, he isn’t just teaching leadership—he’s putting middle and high school students in the driver’s seat, training them to identify problems, design solutions, and take action where it matters most: in their own communities.But this isn’t just a program—it’s a movement. Young people in Wise Up to Rise Up aren’t waiting for permission to lead. They’re launching passion-driven projects that solve real problems, sparking social movements that bring others along, and using art, storytelling, and innovation to challenge the status quo.
Through virtual and in-person experiences, Wise Up to Rise Up connects youth across different circles, helping them turn their ideas into action—whether it’s leading a kindness campaign, organizing a creative event, or inspiring their peers to think bigger.Khris isn’t here to talk about leadership. He’s proving what it looks like in action. No red tape, no waiting around—just young people stepping up, thinking big, and making things happen.
Because leadership isn’t about titles or permission. It’s about seeing a problem, daring to imagine a solution, and having the courage to make it happen.The next generation of changemakers isn’t coming soon—they’re already here. And thanks to Khris, they aren’t just rising up—they’re already leading.
FROM NOTHING TO NATIONAL IMPACT: THE RISE OF KHRISTOPHER FIELDS
(THE FULL STORY)
In 2023, Khristopher Fields had no car, no income, and no place to call home—just a borrowed laptop, a heavy heart, and a vision too big to stay quiet.He didn’t even have his own internet access when he submitted paperwork to start the Wise Up to Rise Up Foundation.He was sleeping on floors.Eating once a day.Wrestling with medical and mental health struggles.And still—he built anyway.
Fields single-handedly launched a nonprofit from scratch—teaching himself web design, writing his own grants, editing his own videos, organizing events, and running full nonprofit operations by himself—all without a dollar to his name. In just 18 months, he mobilized over $31,000 in support, mostly in-kind, from some of the biggest names in America:
Google, Microsoft, Walmart, Raising Cane’s, and Chick-fil-A.What began as a one-man mission is now a recognized force operating across 752 square miles of underserved communities in Texas—reaching youth who are too often forgotten and making them feel like they belong at the highest levels of society.Over 170 students have received honors under his leadership—including Presidential Gold Medals, Congressional Recognition, and commendations from the U.S. Department of Education, the State of Texas, and the City of Houston.And Khristopher?
He’s received nearly 30 awards for his leadership—including a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and an appointment as an Admiral in the Texas Navy by the governor himself.These weren’t handed to him—they were earned, one sleepless night and one selfless act at a time.He didn’t start with a résumé that made people listen.Just a heavy heart, a calling too loud to silence, and the courage to reach for the stars.What he built wasn’t just for him.It was for the kid who thinks no one sees them.The teen who thinks they’ve already failed.
The parent who’s out of answers.This isn’t just a nonprofit.It’s a wake-up call to every child who’s been told they’re too late.A platform for families who’ve run out of options.A movement that whispers to the forgotten:You were never a mistake. You were just waiting on someone to fight for you.Every award, every life changed, every dollar mobilized—isn’t just a win.It’s proof that when purpose is personal, you don’t need power to make impact.You just need a heart that refuses to quit.