Philadelphia Youth Basketball was founded to create transformative experiences for young people through the
combination of a premier organization, program, and center.
Since PYB’s formation in spring of 2015, the staff team, Board of Directors, and volunteer and leadership groups, have worked hard to advance all parts of the organization in a reflective and results-driven manner. In addition to our organizational accomplishments, we are proud of our programmatic triumphs.
PYB currently offers two core programs, the Middle School Partnership Program, an afterschool and weekend program, and the Collegiate Summer Camp Series, a series of camp weeks hosted on the campuses of Philadelphia’s top universities. Although each program is unique, both experiences utilize basketball skill development and gameplay; academic programming through daily, socially relevant, math and literacy modules; leadership development through positive coaching and mentorship; and healthy meals and nutrition education.
Over the past 21 months, PYB has engaged and developed relationships with a total of 200 middle school aged boys and girls from North Philadelphia middle schools during the Middle School Partnership Program and 312 young people from neighborhoods throughout the city and region during the 2016 Collegiate Summer Camp Series., an overwhelming majority of whom are from lower-income families and under-resourced communities.
While PYB mobilizes its community engagement with this early programming and continues to improve its efforts with program evaluations, the organization ultimately remains committed to its goal of constructing a $25 million, state-of-the-art youth basketball and education center in the Logan section of North Philadelphia, and has begun the process of securing lead gifts and campaign leaders for its upcoming capital campaign.
Through this capital campaign, PYB will raise the necessary funds to create its 120,000 square foot center and campus with features including:
- 8 indoor and 6 outdoor basketball courts including a 2,000 seat indoor competition court;
- An education wing with a library, classrooms, computer lab, and a community engagement center;
- A health and wellness wing for pediatric care, counseling, strength and conditioning, and injury diagnosis, medical referral, and rehabilitation;
- A healthy foods commissary with onsite food preparation and nutrition programs;
- A Philadelphia Basketball Hall of Fame to commemorate the significant moments, teams, players and coaches in our City’s scholastic, collegiate, and professional basketball history;
- An outdoor picnic area with comfortable seating and attractive landscaping;
- An Executive Suite which is accessible to participating children, staff, and families
This location of this center in the Logan neighborhood of North Philadelphia will provide convenient access to kids and families via public transportation, car, and on foot. The addition of the facility will catalyze a larger revitalization effort of the Logan Triangle, which is being spearheaded by The Goldenberg Group in collaboration with local public officials and Logan stakeholders. This center will be the hub/headquarters of PYB’s programs, along with a network of satellite sites at K-12 schools, universities, recreation centers and playgrounds throughout Philadelphia and perhaps Chester and Camden.
PYB’s future youth basketball and education center will serve as:
- A safe haven for young people to learn, play, and grow in a positive, nurturing, violence-free and hate-free environment;
- A unique combination of basketball with several off-court academic and personal development programs;
- A community hub with the ability to serve an additional 5,000-6,000 young people each year with mission-driven and sustainable programming;
- A platform for basketball, the city’s most iconic sport to be positioned for scalable, positive social impact;
- A beautiful and well-equipped space in which young people know they are being respected, valued, and held to high standards of excellence;
- A community center for children and families from diverse backgrounds to create authentic and enduring relationships;
- A program home that enables PYB to serve its young people and deliver our holistic program seven days a week for multiple hours each day;
- A platform for economic opportunity and workforce development for the Logan Neighborhood and the Greater Philadelphia Area; and
- A model for national and global replication.
As we continue our tireless pursuit of ongoing improvement and organizational excellence to better the lives of Philadelphia’s young people, we ask that you consider joining the PYB movement to help us realize the important case for the future PYB center.
By PYB Staff Team