Meet Jim Kenney | Founder of Born 2 Play Apparel

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jim Kenney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jim, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
As a father of 5 my kids have been playing sports for almost 2 decades. It was so much fun to watch them grow and learn new skills. It wasn’t until the 5th child started playing sports that I noticed that there was no real support apparel for my child. He has played baseball, soccer and basketball and would be considered above average for his age group (5 years old). The words came out of my mouth “man he was born to play this game!” That was the spark that started the idea. I thought that he wasn’t the only child in America that would be considered above average in his sports skill set. So the idea of adding a state outline followed suit. With that Born 2 Play Apparel was brought to life. Pride for state and sport collide.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
For the last 26 years of my adult life I was a professional Chef. Working long hours everyday I would miss out on so much of my children’s lives. Dance, sports and even some holidays, my children along with my beautiful bride are my everything. Life as a chef was not always easy and even down right hard. It sure is not like they show it on TV, but it was a labor of love.

After losing my job and taking time to reflect on life it was clear that even though I loved being a chef it was time for a change. I was over missing out on family time and now I was able to see those practices and games.

Born 2 Play Apparel is not just for children, but for the parents, grandparents and everyone who loves sports and their state. Our goal is to give back to youth sports and organizations through collaborations and fundraising opportunities. Our design team can work with your brand/organization and put together a design that shows pride for all.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Arizona is amazing! Amazing food and night life, major league teams and some of the best hiking and natural sense in the US. Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Painted Desert and many other beautiful hiking and day trips. Old western towns, mountains, lakes and some great fishing in the rivers there is always something to do. Spring time brings perfect weather, spring training MLB, Phoenix Open Golf and we have the Fiesta Bowl! Old town Scottsdale bring great talented chefs (some I know personally) high energy night life and some beautiful resorts for the morning slow down by the pool.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My sons Carter and Payson, and their love for sports! All of the parents out there who drive to and from practice and sacrifice so much so their children can enjoy sports. Friends, family and neighbors who have helped and continue to help grow the brand.

Website: HTTPS://www.Born2PlayApparel.com

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