Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation

Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) is an organization dedicated to training and nurturing the young leaders of tomorrow. Its mission is to provide lifelong leadership development opportunities that empower youth to achieve their highest potential.

History

Founded in 1958 by American actor Hugh O'Brian, the first seminar was held in Los Angeles, California, and was held once a year until 1967. Since then, the HOBY program has spread to over 70 locations in all fifty United States, and 16 countries, including Canada, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Germany, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Malawi, Philippines, Singapore, United Kingdom, Mexico, Israel, China, Taiwan, Argentina, Bolivia, Korea, and Iraq.

Program

To attend seminars in the United States, a student must be chosen by their high school out of all students in that school's class. At the seminars, students participate in programs designed to enhance their leadership and teamwork skills. Students also meet and converse with leaders in their community in fields such as volunteerism, media, education, philanthropy, and politics, among others. They also break off into groups and discuss the day and their activities, as well as their life and feelings. They also participate in energizer cheers in between panels and in any free time they have.

In the summer, HOBY has a World Leadership Congress (WLC), which has been hosted in Washington, DC since 2000. The WLC is attended by hundreds of HOBY students from all over the world. Since inception, 355,000 young people have attended HOBY programs.Fact|date=August 2008

Famous Alumni

Famous Alumni include Governor Mike Huckabee, Florida Congressman Adam Putnam, actors James Van Der Beek, Ricky Ullman, Shannon Elizabeth, Houston Rockets basketball player Shane Battier, Doug Wilson host and designer of TLC's Trading Spaces show, and founder Hugh O'Brian

The Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award

The Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award is the highest honor bestowed by HOBY, named for the man who inspired and motivated Hugh O’Brian to establish the organization in 1958. The prestigious honor is presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves through service to mankind and who have contributed significantly through leading, educating and motivating youth.

Past recipients of the Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award include:

Sec. of State Madeleine Albright,President & Mrs. George H. Bush,Lynn and Richard Cheney,First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton,Elizabeth and Robert Dole,President and Mrs. Gerald R. Ford,
David Foster,Lynn and Foster Friess,Raisa and Mikhail Gorbachev,Vice President and Mrs. Al Gore,Lydia and Charlton Heston,Dolores and Bob Hope,J. Willard Marriott,General Colin L. Powell (Ret.),President & Mrs. Ronald Reagan,General H. Norman Schwarzkopf,
Ted Turner, andGovernor and Mrs. Pete Wilson

External links

* [http://www.hoby.org HOBY] website
* [http://www.hoby.org/downloads/mediaroom_FactsandStats.pdf HOBY Facts and Figures] (PDF)