Kenneth Holdsman Named New President of Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Eduction

Feb. 6, 2009 - PRLog -- KENNETH HOLDSMAN NAMED NEW PRESIDENT
OF ARTHUR ASHE YOUTH TENNIS AND EDUCATION

Philadelphia, PA, February 6, 2009 – After an extensive national search, the board of directors of Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education (AAYTE) has named Kenneth Holdsman to the newly created position of president of AAYTE, the innovative, nonprofit, public tennis and educational enrichment organization for Philadelphia area children that has grown to serve many thousands of children during its 57-year history.

Jerry L. Johnson, chairman of the AAYTE board of directors, said Holdsman was selected because he is a national leader in the fields of positive youth development, youth civic and political engagement, and service-learning. In his newly created post, he will oversee the daily tennis and academic operational aspects of the one-of-a-kind youth organization, and will also be involved in community activities, lead fundraising and development efforts, advocate on topics relating to youth, and seek to expand AAYTE programs and participation.

“Kenny Holdsman brings extensive fundraising, organizational development, and personnel leadership skills to AAYTE,” said Johnson. “His experience on the local and national levels to provide innovative programs to better the lives for America’s youth will pay positive dividends for our diverse group of thousands of boys and girls who come to Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education for guidance, hope, new skills, and future success.”

Holdsman takes the helm of AAYTE after almost six years as Senior Program Officer and Director of the Youth Engagement Team for the Academy for Educational Development in Washington, DC, and New York City. AED is a global, nonprofit organization committed to solving critical social problems and building the capacity of individuals, communities, and institutions to become more self-sufficient.

Earlier, he was Director of Service-Learning for the School District of Philadelphia (1998-2003), an Adjunct Faculty Member at Temple University’s College of Education (2001-2002), an Associate Attorney at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll in Philadelphia (1996-1998), and Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Robert E. Andrews in Washington, DC (1990-1993).

Holdsman, who is active in the youth sports community in Philadelphia, received his B.S. in Economics from Lehigh University in 1989, and a J.D. from Temple University Law School in 1996.

He is a recipient of the City Year Philadelphia, Red Jacket Award (2002), the Philadelphia Bar Association’s F. Sean Pereta Service Award (1998), and for the Olympic Torch Relay in 1996 was selected as one of 15 torchbearers in the Philadelphia region for outstanding volunteerism. For his community engagement work, he was named one of Philadelphia’s “100 Connectors” by Leadership, Philadelphia.