The Hollingworth Center is a national support and resource network focused on the needs of highly gifted children A nonprofit corporation staffed by volunteers the Center was founded in central Maine in 1983 by Kathi Kearney as a parent support group in the belief that highly gifted children and their families need not feel isolated The Center primarily serves as a clearinghouse of information and events concerning the needs of highly gifted children The Center was named in honor of Dr Leta Hollingworth who conducted one of the first pioneering studies of exceptionally gifted children their socialemotional needs and how best to educate them