Who are we?
HOBY’S MISSION
To inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation.
For over five decades, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) has inspired young people to make a difference and become catalysts for positive change in their home, school, workplace, and community. As America’s foremost youth leadership organization, HOBY has a long and impressive history of successfully motivating youth and volunteers to outstanding leadership. HOBY aims to inspire and develop our global community of youth & volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation.
HOBY’S VISION
To motivate and empower individuals to make a positive difference within our global society, through understanding and action, based on effective and compassionate leadership.
CORE VALUES
Volunteerism – Volunteerism is the heart and soul of our organization. We appreciate the myriad contributions of our volunteers, and recognize the power of thank you and of giving back. We seek to promote and encourage service among our stakeholders. We recognize and value the positive accomplishments that volunteers can achieve by working together. We believe that our programs positively impact volunteers as much as the youth and communities we serve.
Integrity – Integrity forms the foundation of our organization. We demand the highest level of ethics. 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.
Excellence – We strive to continually raise our programs and business 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.
Diversity – 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. We give all individuals an equal opportunity to be heard and to benefit from our programs.
Community Partnership – We value community partnerships. We recognize the importance of working with community organizations to strengthen our supportive network. We value the input we receive from our community partners, and strive to work together cooperatively and constructively for the betterment of all.
HUGH O'BRIAN
““I do not believe we are all born equal - created equal in the eyes of God, yes - but physical and emotional differences, parental guidance, varying environments, being in the right place at the right time, all play a role in enhancing or limiting an individual’s development. But I do believe every man and woman, if given the opportunity and encouragement to recognize his or her own potential, regardless of background, has the freedom to choose in our world. Will an individual be a taker or a giver in life? Will that person be satisfied merely to exist, or seek a meaningful purpose? Will he or she dare to dream the impossible dream?””
Hugh O’Brian was born April 19, 1925 in Rochester, New York. At 17, he became the youngest drill instructor in Marine Corps history, but found his true passion was acting. O’Brian gained national fame and notoriety with his portrayal of frontier lawman Wyatt Earp in “The Life and Times of Wyatt Earp.” This top-rated television series ran from 1955-1962 and made O’Brian an overnight success. After the series ended, O’Brian went on to other acting projects in film, television, and Broadway while devoting the rest of his time to HOBY.
The honors and awards he has received from his work with HOBY are numerous. In 1983, the National Society of Fund Raising Executives honored him with their premier award for overall philanthropic excellence as a volunteer, fundraiser and philanthropist. This is the only time one individual has received the award in all three categories. In 1989, he received the 60th Annual American Education Award presented by the American Association of School Administrators. O'Brian joins Norman Rockwell, Lyndon Johnson, Helen Keller, Walt Disney, and Bob Hope as a recipient of this most significant award. Mr. O’Brian died on September 5, 2016 at the age of 91.