About

In the summer of 1958, actor Hugh O’Brian received the invitation that would change his life; he visited 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, on his mission in Africa.

O’Brian spent nine days at the clinic where Schweitzer and volunteer doctors and nurses, working without electricity or running water, cared for patients, including many with leprosy.

Schweitzer was concerned about global peace prospects and was convinced that the United States should take a leadership role in achieving peace. Schweitzer pushed the urgency for change and how education must teach young people to think for themselves. It was an unforgettable nine days. And, as O’Brian departed, Schweitzer took his hand and asked, “Hugh, what are you going to do with this?”

Two weeks after returning from his 1958 meeting with Schweitzer, O’Brian put together a prototype seminar for young leaders — HOBY.  And the rest is living history.

Learn more about our seminar for young leaders

 

Founded in 1958, HOBY's mission is to inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation. . HOBY programs are conducted annually throughout the United States, serving local and international high school students.

 

Mission

To inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation.

At HOBY, we believe all students have the potential to lead. Our seminars bring students together across different backgrounds, cultures, and communities. We help students discover a newfound sense of awareness, confidence, connection, and purpose. Our seminars are proven to cultivate personal growth and inspire action. Students leave HOBY with the knowledge and passion needed to make a positive impact on the world around them. Being a part of the HOBY community unlocks a world of opportunities and connections beyond our seminars.

Values

  • The heart and soul of our organization. We recognize and value what volunteers can achieve by working together. We believe our programs positively impact our volunteer leadership who are the heart of our programs as much as the youth and communities we serve.

  • Forms the foundation of our organization. We grow our organization based on interactions that promote mutual trust and respect with our stakeholders and partners. We strive to ensure the highest level of organizational effectiveness by continually reviewing our programs and processes to improve quality and efficiency.

  • We strive to continually raise our programs to new levels of excellence. We encourage entrepreneurship and innovation in business, education, and social responsibility. We develop creative solutions to address challenges and to utilize opportunities. We believe that leadership skills can and should be continually improved and refined.

  • We value and embrace diversity. We seek out views that reflect all walks of life and reflect those views in our programs. We are sensitive to the special needs and diverse backgrounds of individuals, our students, volunteers and our communities. We give all individuals an equal opportunity to be heard and to benefit from our programs.

  • We value community partnerships. We recognize the importance of working with community organizations to strengthen our programs by helping us provide all young people the opportunity to participate in and benefit from a HOBY program. We value the input we receive from our community partners and strive to work together cooperatively and constructively for the betterment of all.