Kenny Holdsman, a 1985 graduate of Cheltenham High School, was recently featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer on behalf of his organization’s purchase of a permanent home.

Holdsman, who founded of Philly Youth Basketball (PYB) in 2015 and still serves as their CEO, has helped finance and build a $36 million, 100,000-square-foot facility at 4250 Wissahickon Avenue in North Philly.

The Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center held an opening night gala on Thursday, January 18, and will open to the public in May.

PYB serves roughly 1,200 youths per year. In 2021, the organization caught the eye of Sixers superfan Alan Horwitz, who gifted the club $5 million to start fundraising, the Inquirer said.

“[We are] going to open up … the country’s most substantial and impactful youth development and community empowerment center,” Holdsman said.

After the new facility opens, PYB expects to serve more than 5,000 kids. The basketball-centric facility will house seven full-length courts, including a court dedicated to smaller children and wheelchair basketball.

Each court will be named in honor of Philly basketball legends, including former Sixer Doug Collins and Joel Embiid’s brother, Arthur Embiid, who died in 2014.

The Center will also have a financial services hub, a healthy foods cafe, a digital media lab, and educational programming for children with autism and Down syndrome.

“Young people are craving for extra spaces that are outside of school and outside of their home,” Ameen Akbar, PYB’s chief mission officer, said.

In June 2023, Holdsman was named the recipient of the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame’s prestigious Pillar of Achievement Award.

For more on Philadelphia Youth Basketball, you can visit their Facebook page or watch the video below:

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Photos: PYB, Setan Hall University