A Legacy of Service: David Lehrer’s 30-Year Journey with Operation Fresh Start

When David Lehrer first walked into Operation Fresh Start in 1995, he was a volunteer fulfilling a small commitment through his employer, Piper Jaffray (now Piper Sandler). What started as a two-hour-a-week tutoring gig quickly became a decades-long dedication to helping young people thrive. 

“I just kept coming because I liked it,” David recalled. “I liked the young people I was working with. I liked the staff, and it was fulfilling to see these young people gain confidence in themselves and succeed.” 

In those early years, David sat with participants working toward their GEDs, helping them with math and offering strategies for life beyond the classroom.

“After a few weeks, it always turned into more than math,” he said. “We’d talk about their challenges, and I’d try to give them some strategies and a different way to look at things.” 

David earned the "Made a Difference" Award in 2002 at an OFS Luncheon.

David’s passion for OFS grew into a deeper involvement. In November 2005, he joined the OFS Board of Directors. Over the next decade, he played a pivotal role in steering the organization through periods of growth and financial challenge. He served as Board Vice President from 2009-2011 and as Board President from 2011-2014. His leadership was instrumental in implementing board term limits, strengthening financial stability, and helping shift OFS away from owning homes and toward a sustainable model focused on serving young people first. 

“I knew financials, and once I started looking into the numbers, I saw we were not on stable footing,” David said. “We had to change our model, so we weren’t in the real estate business—we were in the business of helping young people.” 

After a brief year away, David returned to the board in January 2016 and served two more terms through January 2022. During this time, OFS expanded programming, strengthened community partnerships, and deepened its commitment to helping young people remove barriers like transportation by launching the DRIVE program. 

Some of David’s favorite memories include securing OFS as the beneficiary of the Merrill Lynch Gala—an event that brought in significant funds and raised the organization’s profile in the community—and watching graduation ceremonies.

“It’s just fun to see young people go from here to there,” he said. “You feel like you did a little bit to help.” 

David with former OFS Executive Director Connie Ferris Bailey at her OFS "graduation" retirement party in 2011.

Looking ahead, David hopes OFS continues to evolve while staying true to its mission.

“I’d just say, keep doing what we’re doing. Expand our programming so we can help more young people and keep being creative to meet their changing needs. I think we’re really good at that.” 

Now, as David is recognized with an award at the 2025 OFS Gala, he remains humble.

“I get more out of this than I put into it,” he said. “I hope I can encourage others to spend their time investing in OFS, because it pays off.” 

David’s decades of service helped transform OFS into a financially strong, strategically guided, and more impactful organization. His leadership has ensured that thousands of young people have the chance to start their careers, complete their education, and build brighter futures.