NEWS

Celebrating 20 Years

02.03.26

The first official YDO program was launched when our founder, Howard, combined a few key ingredients:

1. Lawrence middle schoolers interested in math & science,
2. Phillips Academy high schoolers with a love of science and a willingness to volunteer,
3. a curriculum (found online) for a hands-on Genetics Lab experience, and
4. a vision that engagement can be effective and learning powerful when young people come together around a shared interest.

Those ingredients combined can (and did) make for a successful enrichment experience. However, Howard knew that, to truly help Lawrence youth see their full potential and chase it, programs like the Genetics Lab could not be one-offs. He believed that something extra was needed for students to build momentum for the lives they could envision: relationships.

From the beginning, YDO’s secret sauce as an organization was making a commitment to long-term relationships. The common interest that brought a group together (e.g. science, journalism, soccer) was a mechanism for YDO to get to know students deeply as individuals. With stronger relationships–youth with a mentor, youth with each other–the interests and passions of YDO Kids became the strategic plan.

Since 2006, YDO has served more than 2,000 youth in Lawrence. The organization has grown in offerings, staff, and space over the years. But, our commitment to seeing and serving each YDO Kid has not wavered.

Twenty years. This anniversary is certainly something worth celebrating!

Tribute Logo for 2026

To commemorate this special year, we are thrilled to unveil a few subtle changes to our official logo for the remainder of 2026. Our familiar tilted “o” will take on a splash of gold to signify the organization’s milestone. We hope this serves as a reminder to all that this is an important time for the YDO community, and we need your support now as much as ever!