ProWomen Luncheon

About the Speaker: Dr. Frances Mills-Yerger is program director and co-founder of Leadership Workshops Foundation for Youth and Family (LWFYF).  “Dr. Franny,” as she is known to thousands of youth and adults throughout the Valley, has dedicated her life to enhancing the character of young people and training them to be tomorrow’s leaders.  For 25 years, she has presented educational workshops for adolescents, women and families throughout the country.

Dr. Franny is a psychotherapist and holds a doctorate in marriage and family counseling from Columbia Pacific University.  As a marriage and family counselor in private practice in the late 1970s, she noticed a striking void of personal growth and skill-building opportunities for her children and neighbors.  As a result, she formed grassroots youth development programs, which evolved into the creation of LWFYF’s signature program, “Workshop,” in 1978.  Since its inception, Workshop has flourished under her dynamic leadership.  The program is known for its fun, interactive environment and the innovative use of volunteer peer facilitators where youth mentor youth.

Dr. Franny has received numerous awards for her enthusiasm and devotion to making a difference in the lives of local youth and families.  They include:

Leadership Workshops Foundation for Youth and Family (LWFYF) is a non-profit organization based in Scottsdale.  The mission of its signature program is to enhance the character of local youth to become tomorrow’s leaders and to strengthen local families.  LWFYF reaches more than 800 Valley youth and families a year through its primary programming with afternoon and week-long workshops for teens, as well as parenting and mother/daughter workshops.  LWFYF is nationally recognized for its innovative use of volunteer peer facilitators where youth mentor youth and for teaching leadership, life and social skills in a fun and interactive environment.  LWFYF is also the winner of the prestigious Sterling Award, presented by the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce recognizing excellence, innovation and community leadership.