Glenn Toby
- Producer
- Director
- Actor
'It took me all my life to learn that I was born rich: rich with the possibility and potential to do and change my situation' says Glenn Toby.
His story begins in Brooklyn, New York. He and his brother, like many children, were raised by a single mother. At the age of just eight years old he was deeply impacted by his mother's nervous breakdown, on the heels of which, the family was evicted and forced to relocate to a shelter. Then and there Glenn vowed to improve his circumstances for him and his family, and, improve they did.
As a teen coming up in the late 70s, Glenn would earn his early music credit as a pioneer of hip hop culture. But in his 20s Glenn landed a corporate job. He juggled work and music production; his job affording him the opportunity to execute some of his childhood goals by investing in a Queens Village recording studio. Glenn's roots in the music industry proved to be a pivotal stepping stone to his next career move.
In 1997, Glenn's reputation preceded him. Widely recognized as an industry insider, he commenced co-management for a slew of artists with LL Cool J heading the list. He helped secure one of his most notable achievements of the rapper's career with a starring role on popular NBC-produced sitcom, In the House.
Whether it was sheer luck or savvy business management, Glenn made his dollars make sense with philanthropic endeavor, The Book Bank Foundation, which he founded in 1998. The BBF was Glenn's way of giving back to the place where he started. He wanted to share the confidence and insight that reading gave him, with those who were enduring rough times and who had been displaced from their homes. To date, the BBF has served over 175,000 children nationwide and contributed over 520,000 hours of community service with tutoring, alternative education solutions and career development services to Atlanta Shelters, Shelter from the Streets and Hero Awards. The BBF, committed to serving the youth with annual events, has recruited numerous celebrity spokespeople to help drive his messages of literacy.
In 2003 Glenn began his sports management career. He joined forces with Alonzo Shavers in 2005 to create Infinite Sports Technology (IST). Their firm managed and advised over 50 professional athletes including Olympian Samyr Laine, football cornerback Asante Samuel, Don King and numerous others.
Also in 2005, Harvard University endowed Glenn with the Man of the Year award. Over the years, he has continued to serve as a guest lecturer on the speaking circuit of such universities as Harvard, Princeton, Duke, North Carolina Central as well as social institutions, associations and nonprofit organizations.
Glenn has accepted numerous Leader awards, but the most humbling was an honorary doctorate degree awarded by Nepal's Kathmandu International University. Bishop Luke Vandari, Ph.D. said of Glenn as he presented the degree: 'We awarded Dr. Glenn Toby an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy for his outstanding leadership and amazing ability to influence others on an international scale. His compassionate heart is like that of Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa. As the founder of The Book Bank Foundation and participant in countless other community services in America and worldwide; we wish him the very best and continue to pray and encourage him for his great endeavors for the Lord and for the people.'
Glenn Toby continues his work as an author, philanthropist, lecturer and talent agent.
His story begins in Brooklyn, New York. He and his brother, like many children, were raised by a single mother. At the age of just eight years old he was deeply impacted by his mother's nervous breakdown, on the heels of which, the family was evicted and forced to relocate to a shelter. Then and there Glenn vowed to improve his circumstances for him and his family, and, improve they did.
As a teen coming up in the late 70s, Glenn would earn his early music credit as a pioneer of hip hop culture. But in his 20s Glenn landed a corporate job. He juggled work and music production; his job affording him the opportunity to execute some of his childhood goals by investing in a Queens Village recording studio. Glenn's roots in the music industry proved to be a pivotal stepping stone to his next career move.
In 1997, Glenn's reputation preceded him. Widely recognized as an industry insider, he commenced co-management for a slew of artists with LL Cool J heading the list. He helped secure one of his most notable achievements of the rapper's career with a starring role on popular NBC-produced sitcom, In the House.
Whether it was sheer luck or savvy business management, Glenn made his dollars make sense with philanthropic endeavor, The Book Bank Foundation, which he founded in 1998. The BBF was Glenn's way of giving back to the place where he started. He wanted to share the confidence and insight that reading gave him, with those who were enduring rough times and who had been displaced from their homes. To date, the BBF has served over 175,000 children nationwide and contributed over 520,000 hours of community service with tutoring, alternative education solutions and career development services to Atlanta Shelters, Shelter from the Streets and Hero Awards. The BBF, committed to serving the youth with annual events, has recruited numerous celebrity spokespeople to help drive his messages of literacy.
In 2003 Glenn began his sports management career. He joined forces with Alonzo Shavers in 2005 to create Infinite Sports Technology (IST). Their firm managed and advised over 50 professional athletes including Olympian Samyr Laine, football cornerback Asante Samuel, Don King and numerous others.
Also in 2005, Harvard University endowed Glenn with the Man of the Year award. Over the years, he has continued to serve as a guest lecturer on the speaking circuit of such universities as Harvard, Princeton, Duke, North Carolina Central as well as social institutions, associations and nonprofit organizations.
Glenn has accepted numerous Leader awards, but the most humbling was an honorary doctorate degree awarded by Nepal's Kathmandu International University. Bishop Luke Vandari, Ph.D. said of Glenn as he presented the degree: 'We awarded Dr. Glenn Toby an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy for his outstanding leadership and amazing ability to influence others on an international scale. His compassionate heart is like that of Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa. As the founder of The Book Bank Foundation and participant in countless other community services in America and worldwide; we wish him the very best and continue to pray and encourage him for his great endeavors for the Lord and for the people.'
Glenn Toby continues his work as an author, philanthropist, lecturer and talent agent.
