We started in 2015 as Born To Play, a baseball program for the youth of the Olney neighborhood. Born To Play’s program has been split into six teams for different age groups, half for boys and the other half, but all with the same name the Olney Angels. Shortly afterwards a flag football program was formed with games played throughout the fall.

With the renovation of the abandoned clubhouse at the Hammond Avenue fields completed in 2021, Born to Play began to expand on its original mission of providing recreation for local youth. Exercise programs for adults as well as youth were introduced in the summer of 2021. Plans for educational and environmental programming are now being laid for the near future. To reflect these anticipated changes, the name Born to Play has recently been changed to Feliz Filadelfia. Olney Angels will still be playing baseball, but there will be much more.

Feliz Filadelfia was recently granted not-for-profit status from the IRS, and 501©3 status is expected shortly to allow for donations. An initial board of directors has been established consisting of Born to Play founder Jose Rivera, sister Edna Rivera, son Alexander Crespo and Dan Gordon of the Drumcliff Foundation. Although maintaining its Latino roots, Feliz Filadelfia offers programming for everyone. Likewise, Feliz Filadelfia, while focusing on the Olney neighborhood, welcomes participants from throughout the city.

Believing in the team approach, Feliz Filadelfia looks forward to collaborating with existing organizations as well as conducting its own programs, to make Olney and the City of Philadelphia better places to live.