Our mission is to inspire, educate, and empower at-risk youth through character building, innovative thinking, and entrepreneurship.

Our vision is to empower disadvantaged youth to discover their purpose, reach their full potential, and become impactful leaders in their communities. 

Purpose Driven Youth Empowerment (PDYE) was founded by Nita and Kenneth Page, two passionate educators who witnessed firsthand the struggles many minority youth faced with reading. As former public school leaders, they saw far too many students reading below grade level and falling behind on state assessments. Determined to change the narrative, they launched PDYE to promote literacy, character-building, and opportunity.

Just nine months after becoming incorporated, PDYE hosted its very first Read-n-Treat event at a local community college—with actor and entrepreneur Tommy Ford, best known for his role on The Martin Show, as the celebrity guest. Moved by the Pages’ vision, Mr. Ford became the organization’s official celebrity spokesperson. That event gave away over 1,000 free books, school supplies, food, and treats—with strong support from local businesses. Thanks to overwhelming feedback, the Pages committed to making Read-n-Treat an annual tradition.

Over the years, the event grew significantly, eventually drawing over 5,000 youth and their families to its final pre-pandemic event at Hulen Mall in Fort Worth, Texas.

As PDYE’s reach expanded, so did its team—welcoming more than 100 volunteers, many of them high school students. That sparked a pivotal shift: the Pages wanted PDYE to not only serve students but empower them to lead. Two student mentoring programs, Ladies of Distinction and Men of Vision, which the Pages had begun back in 2005, were officially folded into PDYE in 2014. By 2018, what began with 25 students grew to a movement serving over 300 youth through student-led empowerment groups.

Eventually, the Pages relocated to another city in Texas, and like many organizations, the pandemic paused their outreach. But PDYE’s mission never stopped.

Today, PDYE is rebuilding and reimagining its impact in the Greater Houston area—committed more than ever to inspiring, educating, and empowering youth through innovative, purpose-driven programs.