Daniel Harris, a former high school basketball player, has been gaining attention after his story of living in foster homes and finding family in his high school coach went viral.
Through a now-viral social media post by Joe Becignuel, a golf referee, Daniel Harris shared his struggles, from growing up in foster homes and facing arrest to dealing with problematic parents, before finding family with his basketball coach.
He also paid respect and tribute to his high school basketball coach, Winston Williams, whom he considers his father and his Guardian Ad Litem, Catherine Rhea.
Daniel revealed that he grew up in the foster care system in South Carolina, after his father, who was an alcoholic and drug addict, was killed and his mother, also an addict, was put behind bars for credit card fraud when he was in 4th grade.
He further added that his late father would get drunk and abuse his mother. Daniel Harris had a mightily struggling past; he was placed in around nine foster homes and two group homes around the South Carolina state from ages 12-19 years.
He also got arrested for things he didn’t do after graduating high school and was eventually forced to sign out of a foster home.
However, Daniel Harris’s life took a positive turn when he moved in with his Guardian Ad Litem, Catherine Rhea, after signing out of foster care, whom he regards as the most important person in his life.
Similarly, his high school basketball coach, Winston Williams, and his family made Daniel a part of their family and guided him in his journey on and off the field.
Daniel Harris never misses a chance to appreciate his foster father, Winston Williams, and Guardian Ad Litem, Catherine Rhea, and often expresses his love and respect for them on social media.
From foster care alum to being a renowned foster care advocate, Daniel Harris often credits his high school basketball coach and foster father, Winston Williams, for being his constant supporter.
In Honor of His Foster Parents, Daniel Harris Co-Founded Winston Rhea Scholars for Foster Children
Daniel Harris established The Wiston Rhea Scholars, a non-profit organization to honor Winston Williams and Catherine Rhea and the impact they had on him.
Winston Rhea Scholars, founded by Daniel in July 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana, provides current and former foster youth with the tools to transition from foster care into adulthood by offering educational opportunities, community support, independent living skills, and mentorship.
In addition to running Winston Rhea Scholars, Daniel Harris has also served as chapter success manager of The National Society of Leadership and Success since 2022.
Prior to this, Daniel served as the coordinator for student engagement and assistant director of student life at Loyola University New Orleans for over three years.
He began his career as a case manager at the South Carolina Department of Social Services in Summerville, SC, in 2013 and served in his position for almost three years before joining Tulane University in 2016.
Daniel served as the resident director of Tulane University in New Orleans from 2016 to 2017 and also worked as an assistant director of residence life at Campus Living Villages from 2017 to 2019.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Daniel Harris is married to Katie Steinhardt and is a proud father of a son named Emmett.
- He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Lander University in 2013 and his Master of Education in higher education administration from Columbia College (SC) in 2015.
