In 1958, a famous Hollywood leading man, Hugh O'Brian, returned from a trip to Africa highly inspired by a visit he had with humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer.

O'Brian decided to make his own contribution to society by creating the HOBY Leadership Foundation. For more than four decades, HOBY has motivated over 365,000 young people to become positive catalysts for change in their homes, schools and communities.

As one of the nation's foremost nonprofit youth leadership development organization, HOBY is respected worldwide. Each Spring HOBY conducts 70 leadership seminars throughout the United States and is active in more than 20 countries including Canada, Mexico, China, Israel, Korea, Taiwan and Bolivia. HOBY Leadership Seminars prepare high school sophomores to become effective and ethical leaders.

With no political or religious agenda, HOBY seeks to promote democracy and the free enterprise system while encouraging social responsibility. HOBY's core values are volunteerism, excellence, diversity, innovative thinking, leadership and community partnership. We accept all students who are nominated by their schools.

In 1978, the Boston Jaycees held the first HOBY seminar in Massachusetts.  In 1982, volunteers then created MAHOBY (Massachusetts Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership) -- a nonprofit volunteer organization committed to HOBY's core values. To best serve Massachusetts, MAHOBY is governed by a Board of Directors of prominent business leaders, educators, members of cooperating organizations and HOBY alumni.

MAHOBY provides opportunities to young people through several programs.  The largest program is our Leadership Seminar for high school sophomores.  This three-day gathering in the early summer is hosted by a Massachusetts college or university.  Each public and private High School in Massachusetts is eligible to register a student who will have opportunities to meet distinguished leaders from the worlds of business, education, government, media, and volunteer organizations.