Message from the Director

Dear Parents,

It is my honor and privilege to welcome you to The Character Center web site. This site is one small part of the ultimate vision God gave me years ago to help create awareness and support the academic and personal development of our children.

I know firsthand what it is to be an “overcomer” and to become a “difference maker.” As a child, I was given up for adoption at the age of 13, and adopted by my guardian angel and late Godmother, Ms. Theola Dorsey, who we all affectionately referred to as “Ms. Tiny.”

Ms. Tiny had a big heart and was known as the “Black Mother Theresa” of St. Petersburg, Florida. Although she was single and could not bare children of her own, Ms. Tiny made the decision to adopt me. It wasn’t until after the adoption that she discovered I was dyslexic.

As a dyslexic child, learning was very frustrating for me. I wrote backwards, had poor language skills, and ultimately failed the Third Grade because I couldn’t read. Because of my dyslexia, hyperactive behavior, and short attention span, I was misdiagnosed as a “slow learner.”

On March 15, 1998, Ms. Tiny died of ovarian cancer, and at the time of her death, I was 27 years old. But before she died, I made a promise to her that I would not only seek help to overcome my own learning disability, but I would also help other children suffering from similar challenges as well.

Thus, I’ve dedicated the rest of my life to helping as many students as possible overcome their own personal and academic (and sometimes system-imposed) limitations.

The Character Center, this web site, and the many programs and services we offer through Pivotal Point Enterprises, Inc. are all a part of that promise I made to Ms. Tiny years ago, and I humbly thank you for deciding to make your child part of that vision. We look forward to serving you.

Sincerely,

Zachery “Zack” Richardson
Executive Director