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 and gain knowledge of leadership skills.

History

Founded in 1958 by American actor Hugh O'Brian, the first youth leadership 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 U.S. states, and 19 countries and regions.

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 sophomore 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 discuss the day and their activities in small groups, as well as their life and feelings. They also participate in energizing cheers in between panels and in any free time they have. In 2014, the Hugh O'Brian Legacy Fund was established as an endowment to assist in getting more students, especially disadvantaged ones, into the program.

In late July, HOBY has a World Leadership Congress (WLC), which is hosted in a major U.S. city. The WLC is attended by hundreds of HOBY students from all over the world. Since its inception, 530,000 students have attended HOBY programs.

Famous alumni

Famous alumni include New York Times journalist Charles M. Blow; Inside Edition Host Megan Alexander; Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam; actors James Van Der Beek, Raviv Ullman and Shannon Elizabeth; Miami Heat basketball player Shane Battier; Doug Wilson, host and designer of TLC's Trading Spaces show; Apprentice star and entrepreneur Toral Mehta; former Arkansas Governor and U.S. presidential candidate Mike Huckabee; and filmmaker Shelby Hadden.

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.

Partial list of past recipients of the Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award include:[1]

References
  1. HOBY Previous Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award Recipients, retrieved 12 December 2019
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