Dr. Pointer
An international movement born from a tragedy
Awards
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The story
Dr. Yvonne Pointer, born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, is the fourth of ten children. Her life was forever changed in 1984 when her oldest daughter, Gloria, was abducted, raped, and murdered. In the wake of this tragedy, Yvonne dedicated herself to creating safer communities both within and beyond Cleveland.
Ms. Pointer is frequently called upon to offer words of comfort to individuals and families affected by violence. She firmly believes that the challenges of drugs and gang activity will not disappear on their own. Guided by her personal motto—One Pointer, One Passion, One Purpose—Yvonne embodies the conviction that a single person can make a meaningful difference.
Inspired by a successful initiative in Chicago known as The Midnight Basketball Program, Yvonne launched a one-woman campaign to bring the program to Cleveland. Her efforts succeeded, and in September 1991, the program became a reality. In recognition of her work, Mayor Michael R. White named her the “Mother of Midnight Basketball” in Cleveland.
Yvonne’s dedication has earned her widespread recognition. She appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on November 7, 1991, and was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame by former Governor George Voinovich that same year. Her name was placed in the rotunda of Cleveland City Hall on September 30, 1992, and she received the 908th Point of Light national tribute from President George H. W. Bush. The Federal Bureau of Investigation awarded her the Director’s Community Leadership Award on April 19, 1993, and on May 4, 1994, she received the National Council of Negro Women’s Tribute to Black Women Community Leaders Award.
The Plain Dealer, Cleveland’s daily newspaper, honored Yvonne with the “Making a Difference” Award in 1995, and she received the Greater Cleveland YWCA’s Women of Achievement Award in 1996. In July 2000, she was both a recipient and speaker at the annual Essence Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Yvonne is the co-founder of P.A.C.K. (Parents Against Child Killing) and the founder of Positive Plus Women’s Support Group, funded by the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland, Inc. She is an active member of P.O.M.C. (Parents of Murdered Children) and serves as a mentor in Cleveland City Schools, continuing her lifelong mission of empowering communities and inspiring change.
Essence Award
Yvonne Pointer won an Essence Award in 2001 — honored as a featured speaker and award recipient at the annual Essence Awards ceremonies at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Yvonne Pointer’s Essence Award honored her remarkable transformation of personal tragedy into lifelong service and community leadership. After her 14‑year‑old daughter Gloria was abducted and killed in 1984, Pointer dedicated herself to making communities safer and more supportive for others affected by violence. She founded and led programs like Positive Plus (a long‑running support group for women) and Midnight Basketball (a crime‑prevention initiative offering youth alternatives to violence). She also established the Gloria Pointer Scholarship Fund to help underprivileged students afford college and supports youth education efforts abroad through the Gloria Pointer Teen Movement in Ghana, West Africa. In addition to her community work, Pointer became a nationally known motivational speaker and philanthropist, inspiring others to turn pain into purpose — the kind of leadership that Essence Magazine was celebrating with its award.ion enthusiasts, where your satisfaction is not just a priority; it's our passion.