The 2025 Change Our Future Sneaker Ball will be held Friday, June 6, 2025 at the Live Casino in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Each year, dedicated members of our area are presented with awards for their work in education, sports and community enrichment.
Check out this year’s recipients below.
Game Changer Award Recipient, Kenny Holdsman
Kenny Holdsman serves as PYB’s President and CEO as well as a co-founder of PYB. In his role, Kenny oversees all aspects of the organization including strategic planning; fund development; board development and engagement; community partnerships; program design, implementation, and evaluation; budget and finance; and operations.
He has been involved with empowering young minds for many years through education, leadership, and character development, mentorship, family involvement, and high quality opportunities both in schools and in communities.
Holdsman has been a vital part of many successful organizations such as serving as the President of Legacy Youth Tennis and Education (formerly Arthur Ashe) from February, 2009 to June, 2015. Kenny attended Cheltenham High School, Lehigh University, as well as Temple University School of Law.
Game Changer Award Recipient, Chris Long
Chris Long is a former NFL defensive end. Chris moved from California to Charlottesville, VA when he was a kid and was recruited out of St. Anne’s-Belfield School by the University of Virginia.
Chris captained the Cavaliers as a junior in 2006 and earned Second-team All-ACC recognition. Chris was then superb in his senior year, earning First-team All-ACC and unanimous All-American honors, as well as the Ted Hendricks award (given to the best defensive end in college football).
Long is the first and only football player to have his jersey retired at UVA. After his stock soared as a senior, he was selected 2nd overall by the St. Louis Rams in the 2008 NFL Draft. Chris spent 8 seasons with the Rams then signed with the New England Patriots in 2016 and won his first Super Bowl.
He made it back-to-back titles the next year with the Eagles, and after one more season in Philly, he retired. During his career Chris started his foundation (the Chris Long Foundation), pledged to donate his entire 2017 salary to charity, and following his final season in the league, Chris was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2019 for his outstanding community service.
In life after football, Chris started his own media company called Chalk Media, and at the heart of it is his very popular podcast “Green Light.” The growth of “Green Light” was highlighted by its recent partnership with sports podcast company Blue Wire.
Chris is the son of Hall of Fame defensive end, actor, and NFL analyst Howie Long, and the brother of NFL offensive lineman Kyle Long.
Changing Lives Award, Dr. Debbera Peoples-Lee
Dr. Debbera Peoples-Lee is the Chief Executive Officer of West Oak Lane Charter School (WOLCS), where she has proudly led for 19 years. Under her leadership, WOLCS serves over 1,000 K–8 students, nurturing them into globally competitive, educated, and respectful young adults.
With a 25+ year background in healthcare administration, Dr. Peoples-Lee brought her extensive business and operational expertise to the education sector, transforming WOLCS into a student-centered institution focused on academic excellence in
literacy, math, science, and comprehensive support through intervention and enrichment programs. Her goal: to ensure every graduate is prepared for and accepted into top-tier high schools.
Dr. Peoples-Lee previously held leadership roles at Temple University
Hospital, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of New Jersey, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, and Health Partners of Philadelphia. She also served as an adjunct professor of public health at Temple University.
She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.S. in Healthcare Administration from St. Joseph’s University, and a Ph.D. in Public Health from Temple University. Her areas of expertise include healthcare management, organizational development, leadership, staff development, and public health education.
Dr. Peoples-Lee is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Xi Delta Chapter.
First & Jenn 
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