In the late 1970's, Frances Mills-Yerger, Ph.D. (Dr. Franny) noticed that her children and many other children in her neighborhood were in need of personal growth and skill-building opportunities to help them face the challenges of adolescence.



Consequently, Dr. Franny created a youth development program called Leadership Workshops, Inc. and incorporated the programs into her private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Twenty years later, Dr. Franny was ready to retire; however, the individuals and families that had been touched by the program felt that what she had created was too impactful to lose. These dedicated folks joined together and formed a grassroots non-profit that would continue the work that Dr. Franny started – they also convinced Dr. Franny to remain with the organization as the Program Director, guiding future teens through their adolescent years. The name changed from Leadership Workshops Inc., to Leadership Workshops Foundation for Youth & Family (LWFYF) dba Workshops for Youth and Families (WYF).



The non-profit you support today still remains committed to the vision Dr. Franny had more than three decades ago.

The unique character that has become the symbol for LWFYF was the product of a creative artist in Tri-Beca area of New York City. Dr. Franny thought this little character could make a great logo for Leadership Workshops and filed for a copyright on the character we now call ORHO. Since this time the character has undergone a few transformations – just like the organization it represents. The corner of the mouth was changed from turning down to turning up and the swoosh around the face was added shortly after.



The name ORHO is derived from the word 'Workshop.' Dr. Franny took the ‘OR’ from Work and the 'HO' from shop (wORksHOp) to get ORHO.