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 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 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 2014, a 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, 435,000 students have attended HOBY programs.

Famous alumni

Famous Alumni include former Arkansas Governor and Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, 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 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:

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, President & Mrs. George H. W. Bush, Lynn and Richard Cheney, Secretary of State and former 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, and former California Governor and Mrs. Pete Wilson.

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