Meet the Kings: Chris, Kristen, Charlie, Mary Grace, and Luke. They’re a beautiful family hailing from our sunny Florida, and they shine as bright as the sun does in their community. Chris is the founder and CEO of Elevation Financial Group, and recently announced his running for governor of Florida! His lovely wife Kristen stays home to handle the raising of their cute kids and all the many other duties of the home, and contributes to Welcome Home, a Central Florida-based faith and values variety show. Their children stay busy as well: Charlie, their 10-year-old, has developed a love for soccer and football, and the continual sound of a soccer ball is often heard throughout the day. Mary Grace, 7, loves to sing and perform, and little 5-year-old Luke loves to kick the ball around with his older brother, and skips through life with a big smile on his face.
They love being outside, and enjoy riding their bikes around Winter Park. Chris and Kristen love playing tennis and exercising, and enjoy anything where the sun can hit them and they can feel the wind blowing in their hair. On the weekends, you’ll usually find them hanging out with their friends and family. Both sets of grandparents live less than a mile away from them, so they’re often spending time with them. They also like having their neighbors over for potluck dinners. For them, it’s not about the quality of the meals, but more so about who you’re with. They’d prefer good company with take-out over eating gourmet alone. When they’re not hosting dinners, they go to their kid’s games at Ward Park and Blue Jacket. When they vacation, they usually travel to Longboat Key, or to the western mountains of North Carolina. Chris and Kristen have been going to those spots ever since they were little, and those young experiences instilled a love for these destinations in them. Now, visiting Longboat Key is a 45-year-old tradition for the King family and they plan on continuing it for many years to come.
Both Chris and Kristen are native Floridans, and grew up in Winter Park two blocks from each other! Though, they didn’t meet until high school, through Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Winter Park High School. They’ve fallen in love with Florida ever since they were tykes, and would cut through the street they live on now, Stonehurst, on their bikes as teenagers on the way to each other’s homes. They lived in Delaney Park before moving to where they are now, and have been in their current home for six years. They’re very active in their community: they love their church, Summit, a non-denominational church that meets in the old Fashion Square movie theaters on Herndon. Chris is on the board of Grace Medical Home, a free charitable clinic in Orlando, and they founded the Elevation Scholarship Program through their company, which helps send top performing low-income and first generation kids to the nation’s top colleges and universities, and works through UCF and OCPS partnerships. They’re involved in both fish farming and tree reforestation in Haiti, and they’re starting the Elevation Academy, a primary school in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, for 600 low to middle income children.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more loving and hardworking family. When hurricane Matthew hit, they and their neighbors were out cleaning debris and helping the victims. They love their community, and they’re so grateful to be a part of their small neighborhood. Chris is running for governor, so if you would like to find out more information about his campaign, click HERE.
What an amazing experience it was, and a true pleasure, to take family portraits for the Kings. I know they’re blessed, and I hope they continue to be. Good health and good luck to them!
