OUR STORY
Build A Bag Foundation was started in 2019. It began with friends and family who were trying a sport for the first time and didn’t want to make the sometimes large financial investment into new equipment. Brooklynne reached out to her resources and was able to provide equipment for these friends and family members. She quickly realized the need for equipment was larger than her immediate circle. She had found the opportunity to impact her Kansas City community and communities across the country. The premise was set by our Founder, Brooklynne Simbeck, “no child should be restricted in opportunity based on limited resources”. We recognize our roots were firmly planted in outreach and community. We must keep our goals reaching ever forward with continued opportunity-driven focus. We will see tremendous growth by always staying close to our beginnings and always looking to do more, to make each day better for children and families in our Kansas City community, and to support each person in their journey by being bound to our mission and meeting our community in the most impactful ways possible.
Our Founder, Brooklynne Simbeck was born and raised in the Kansas City area. She was always involved in athletics but fell in love with softball. She began playing softball at 8. She transitioned into the competitive softball world where she played for several teams in the Originals organization.
She attended Grain Valley High School where she excelled in softball and earned All-Metro and All-State awards and was selected to play in the MOKAN annual softball game.
After high school, she attended Crowder Community College where she earned first-team All-Region awards and was listed as 4th in the nation as an NJCAA pitcher for most strikeouts per inning. She also threw a perfect game against Maple Woods MCC.
She transferred from Crowder Community College and received an opportunity to pitch at the University of Texas Arlington where she earned Academic Honor Roll and held a school record for most consecutive team wins at the start of the season with 19 wins in 2016.
Following her time at the University of Texas Arlington, she returned for her last year of eligibility to pitch at Pittsburg State University where she earned the Deans Scholastic Honors as well as hit a milestone of 500 career strikeouts, and ended her college career with a shutout at Central Oklahoma.
Brooklynne graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Services, Sport, and Hospitality Wellness and a Coaching minor. She has been a pitching coach for over 10 years and is inspired by helping kids reach their goals and loves to see the excitement they show for their accomplishments.
Sports have played such an important role in Brooklynne’s life and she values all of the life lessons, friendships, and community that sports have brought into her life.