Chris Rene Ticket Winners Announced

Patch would like to extend a big thank you to all 120-plus people who participated in our !

We asked for submissions from readers telling us why they wanted , and 128 comments poured in over the four-day run of the contest.

On Friday evening, Gina Rene (Chris's sister who ) read everyone's responses and chose the two winners to each receive a pair of tickets to the show.

Congratulations Matt Shaw and Theresa Coyle, for being Gina's official winning selections! Matt and Theresa, please send your phone numbers to jacob.bourne@patch.com, or call 831-214-8649, so that your tickets can be delivered as soon as possible. Matt and Theresa's winning comments can be viewed at the bottom of this page.

Gina was kind enough to write a personal message to Matt, Theresa and the rest of you who shared your stories in the . See her words below.

First I want to share that this has been a beautiful and heart-touching experience for me to read everyone's messages, and it was really challenging to choose only two winners out of hundreds of heartfelt stories, where I could feel everyone's spirit in their messages. It would be awesome if this event had enough space for every one of you and we all know that there will be bigger Chris Rene concerts in the very near future!

I am choosing to go with Matt Shaw as the first winner of two tickets to Chris's Lovelife Homecoming event. 

Matt, your story shows people and especially young parents that reclaiming responsibility for your life, your fatherhood and sobriety is possible. Chris will be inspired to hear your story because he's on his path of creating an even better life for himself and his 3-year-old son and his adopted son also. It always feels good to know you are not alone in choosing what is best for yourself and your child. As a mother myself, I respect and really appreciate you. Thank you for sharing your story and many blessings to you and your son. Congratulations!

For the second set of tickets I wanted them to go to someone who was inspired in a deep and big way by my brother's music and with what he and his music stand for. As I scrolled down the list of messages, I shed a tear here and there because I was relating to many of your situations and want you to have faith and know your dreams are real and possible! Then I came upon the name Theresa Coyle and recognized both her and Ms. Summerrill in the text as Chris's elementary school teachers! I had to stop and consider the work they have done as teachers in nurturing Chris's spirit and creativity as a child and the artist he's always been. I had to give these tickets to them. Congratulations Mrs. Coyle and Ms. Summerrill! We'll see you at Chris's Homecoming Sunday!

Much Much love,
Gina Rene

Winning Comments:

Matt Shaw:
Hey Gina, 
Well I listened to Chris when I was going to the meetings in SC and now I just got custody of my 5 year old son after his aunt made him smoke pot and living in a horrible situation. I have spent everything I have to get him and keep a roof over his head while keeping a positive outlook and surviving in the Santa Cruz area on disability. Chris was always amazing and I am so glad that he has blessed everyone with his talents and he is a huge inspiration to me to keep doing what I am doing and not trip on the little things. God bless you all! 

Theresa Coyle:
Mrs. Coyle and Ms. Summerrill would love to see Chris (and you) on Sunday! We were honored to be a part of the finale and the only thing missing was seeing all of you. It would be so special for us to see our "little guy" all grown up and doing what he loves to do. We would have been in line to buy tickets, but we were teaching... :)