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People to People Ambassador Programs and Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Join Forces to Offer Leadership Training to America's Teens

LOS ANGELES, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Two of America's oldest and most respected youth leadership programs announced today that they are joining forces to offer expanded programs and experience to teenage students around the country. As part of this partnership, they will be co-hosting a youth leadership seminar at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., July 11-17.

Over the past 50 years, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) and People to People Ambassador Programs have impacted the lives of nearly 800,000 students. By leveraging each organization's programmatic strengths, the goal is now to provide students with what HOBY CEO Javier LaFianza calls "a truly unparalleled program that will help teens develop their leadership and community service skills while also preparing them for college and the challenges that await."

The People to People Ambassador Program is the exclusive educational travel provider of People to People International (PTPI), the nonprofit, Kansas City-based organization founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to promote peace through understanding worldwide. PTPI and Ambassadors Group are united in their mission of bridging cultural and political borders through education and exchange. With programs around the United States and in many foreign nations, HOBY helps to cultivate tomorrow's leaders by inspiring a global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation.

"Our hands-on educational travel programs provide students with unique access to people and places, memorable cultural experiences, and life-changing personal interaction," said Peg Thomas, president of People to People Ambassador Programs. "In HOBY we found a partner who shares our mission, vision and values. Together we hope to impact the lives of even more teenagers who want to help create a world that fosters international friendships."

The Leadership Summit at George Washington University is open to grades 6-12 and will attract students from the United States and throughout the world. Its programs will include individual leadership self-assessments, learning the "Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens," exploring leadership through community service, learning how to develop a community action plan, and experiencing unique team-building knowledge. Other People to People Leadership Summits that will be open to HOBY student enrollment will include the Future's Leaders programs (international diplomacy, film and the arts, business and medicine) as well as an assortment of Leadership Summits taking place throughout the summer. More information about the Georgetown Leadership Summit, including how to apply, can be found at www.peopletopeople.com/hoby or www.hoby.org.

People to People Ambassador Programs has provided more than 400,000 citizens of the world the opportunity to promote peace through understanding. The Ambassador Programs include citizen, student, sports and leadership to promote international and domestic programs for professionals, students, athletes and the leaders of tomorrow. Participation in a program contributes directly to personal success in a globalized world and fosters international friendships.

HOBY programs annually provide nearly 10,000 local and international high school students the opportunity to participate in unique leadership training, service learning and motivation-building experiences. HOBY also provides adults the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of youth by volunteering, and today more than 4,000 volunteers and over 365,000 alumni proudly make up the HOBY family. HOBY's 42nd annual World Leadership Congress will be held July 23-30 at the University of California, Los Angeles.

SOURCE Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership