On December 6, 1984, Yvonne’s 14 year old daughter Gloria was abducted, raped, and brutally murdered. That horrific episode in Yvonne Pointer’s life has catapulted her into the role of a local, national, and international activist working tirelessly towards safer communities.
Yvonne was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio where she has positively impacted countless lives. She established a crime prevention program in Cleveland called “Midnight Basketball” to provide young men with alternatives to violence. She ministers to inmates and assist former inmates with re-entering into the communities. Yvonne also continues to lead her 26 year women’s support group “Positive Plus” in a victory to increase self confidence.
Yvonne is also a philanthropist. She established the “Gloria Pointer Scholarship Fund” and has risen over $30,000 dollars in scholarship contributions to assist underprivileged students with college. Internationally, Yvonne funds the “Gloria Pointer Teen Movement” in Ghana, West Africa aiding disadvantaged youth with educational fees, and is spearheading a national movement to raise funds to build a school in memory of her daughter Gloria.
In addition to being an activist and philanthropist, Yvonne is also a dynamic motivational speaker and author. She was a featured speaker at the 2000 Essence Award Ceremonies, has authored books such as “Behind The Death of A Child,” “Word From The Mother,” “Two Dollars In My Pocket,” and has contributed to “Chicken Soup for the African American Soul,” “Thank God I,” and “Love For No Reason.”
She has also appeared on numerous national televisions broadcast including; Oprah Winfrey Show and others. Yvonne has also been featured in magazine’s such as; Essence, Ebony and Women’s Day.
Most recently, her story was highlighted in a German Documentary, “The Second Execution of Romell Broom,” directed by Michael Verhoeven. The film won 1st Prize for Best Documentary in the Rhode Island Film Festival in 2012. She is currently being considered for a film depicting her life story from the book, “God Whispered In My Ear,” which is being written by journalist Margaret Bernstein.
Her lists of honors include:
- Curvation Project Confidence Award presented by Actress Queen Latifah
- Essence Award in New York at Madison Square Garden
- Induction to the Women’s Hall of Fame by Former Governor of the State of Ohio, George Voinovich
- 908th Point of Light presented by Former President George Bush
She is a faithful Evangelist at New Direction Church of God in Christ, located in Cleveland, Ohio. Her Pastor is Elder Rufus Webb. She minister’s the gospel of Jesus Christ both nationally and internationally and believes that with God are things are possible. To learn more about the life and works of Yvonne Pointer, please visit www.yvonnepointer.com.
