12.15.2016

Georgia HOBY Newsletter:
Eighty-Fifth Edition, December 15, 2016

Featured Alumna: Braxton Simpson NW '15

I am a proud 2015 HOBY Alumni from Kennesaw Georgia, representing Marietta High School.  HOBY changed my life. After leaving HOBY, my innate leadership skills were sharpened and her commitment to lead through service was heightened! Since HOBY, I have joined several civic organizations, re-organized my business, and co-founded a service oriented organization rooted in my drive to lead through service.        
My love for my school community can be witnessed through my current position as Marietta High School’s Student Body Co-President. I has served Marietta’s school community through Student Council for four years, and one of my most coveted roles in this position includes organizing an Annual Pennies for Patients Student vs. Teacher Basketball Game fundraiser for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This fundraiser brings in roughly $3,000 per year!  Three years ago, I developed an Annual Required Student Council Leadership Training. The goal of the training is to teach new and returning officers Parliamentary Procedure and Robert’s Rule of Order. I engage members of the community including Kennesaw State University’s Student Government and Marietta City Schools Board members to come in and teach meeting best practice.  
After leaving HOBY, I became more focused and intentional about her business Girl's Got Game (GGG), a female athletic apparel company. Before HOBY, I was more focused on how I could make the most money and had lost sight of why I started the business in the first place.  HOBY’s emphasis on service led me to reorganize GGG’s business structure, and focus on its founding principles--which is to make and sell apparel geared towards empowering girls to feel feminine while playing male-dominant sports.  I have begun to shift away from coed apparel and focused on more feminine apparel. 
Most recently, I and eight other female students founded a senior-freshmen mentoring organization called Black Girls United (BGU)! BGU was founded for the purpose of empowering 9th grade black girls, by giving them the opportunity to embrace their culture, gender, and uniqueness while learning how to navigate through the highs and lows of high school.  BGU pairs these girls up with positive senior mentors who are committed to helping them grow academically, socially, and emotionally.  Currently, Black Girls United has 28 members and 17 volunteers, and it’s growing every day!

HOBY Info:
Georgia HOBY Store
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12.08.2016

Georgia HOBY Newsletter:
Eighty-Fourth Edition, December 8, 2016

Featured Alumnus: Jonathan Helfgott NW '16

 My WLC experience was life changing. I met so many amazing people who changed my life. Before HOBY I was shy and did not do much outside of school. Since HOBY I do a lot more outside of school. I remember being very nervous because it was the first time I ever flew alone and I missed my first flight by only a couple of minutes. When I landed in Chicago I saw many HOBY shirts and then knew that everything was going to be okay.  After I got to Loyola University, I met all my group members and found out that one of them used to live in the same neighborhood as my grandmother.  He also goes to the same school as my cousin. After only just a couple of hours I felt like I had known them for a long time. I decided that I was going to play my violin in the talent show. I normally get nervous when I have to play in front of a huge crowd and worry if I mess up. I did mess up on the end and everyone was still supportive of me. That’s thing about HOBY if you mess up they still support you.  In just a week we cleaned up Humboldt Park and learned about some of the places the ambassadors come from. We also went sightseeing and listened to many great speakers. I did not think that my experience was going to be as good as it was. In just a couple of days my life was changed by 400 amazing people who I can always count on. 

HOBY Info:
Georgia HOBY Store
Amazon Smile
  • If you shop at Amazon, then switch to Amazon Smile (https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-2861279). It is the exact same website, but 0.5% of purchases will be donated to a charity of your choice.
  • Choose HOBY Georgia (Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership) as your charity!
Social Networking!!!
  • Find us on Facebook: HOBY Georgia
  • Follow us on Twitter: @GA_HOBY  
  • Follow us on Instagram: hoby_georgia
  • Follow us on Vine: Georgia HOBY
  • Follow us on SnapChat: hobygeorgia
  • Check our the website: www.gahoby.org
  • Check out our YouTube channel: HOBY Georgia
  • Check out http://hobycheers.wikidot.com/list-of-hoby-cheers for awesome cheers
Hours
This Blog
  • If you would like post a "My Favorite HOBY Experience" in the future on this blog, then email gahobyfundraising@gmail.com also with your response!
  • Be on the lookout for the next Newsletter or My Favorite HOBY Experience Post