The HOBY Story

In 1978, Hugh O'Brian reached out to the Pennsylvania Jaycees, a service organization that promotes community service and leadership opportunities to young adults, to sponsor a seminar in Central Pennsylvania. This marked the birth of Central PA HOBY and the Central Pennsylvania Leadership Seminar, which has since grown to serve over 200 sophomores annually from both public and private high schools across the region. The seminar invites students from various counties, including:

 

Adams, Bedford, Bradford, Carbon, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, Wyoming, and York.

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HOBY provides Community Leadership Workshops for first-year students and alum programming for juniors and seniors, including national programs such as the World Leadership Congress, as well as local service opportunities in communities across the region. It is an entirely volunteer-based organization, with the Corporate Board and Seminar planning committee comprising of HOBY alumni, community leaders, and past seminar speakers. The staff also includes many HOBY alums who continue to develop their leadership skills and give back to the next generation of emerging leaders. These alumni Ambassadors volunteer their time as committee members, staff, speakers, and facilitators.

 

Central PA HOBY is affiliated with Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership, the nation's leading youth leadership development organization for over 50 years. Created by Hugh O'Brian in 1958, HOBY aims to provide lifelong opportunities that enable individuals to reach their full potential and become positive change-makers in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. With over 475,000 alums leading the way, HOBY is a highly respected organization worldwide for its youth leadership programs.