Rising to the Challenge, Rallying for the Community: Introducing the Rise & Rally Program

Lekha Subbaiah

By David Yeakle

The Austin Table Tennis Club is thrilled to announce the launch of the Rise & Rally Program, a brand-new monthly community outreach to share the magic of table tennis with underprivileged youth through the power of sport, mentorship, and positive social interaction.

Managed by ATTC youth player Lekha Subbaiah and supervised by former ATTC Vice President and philanthropic veteran D.J. Powers, Rise & Rally will offer free introductory table tennis experiences to children from local foster care organizations, youth support programs, and mentorship groups.

The Spark: How Rise & Rally Was Born

Great ideas often spring from moments of pure inspiration. For Lekha, the concept came to life after a recent club visit from Big Brothers Big Sisters.

"Watching those kids experience table tennis for the first time was something I won't forget," Lekha shares. "They were laughing, cheering each other on, and celebrating every little success, even if they had never held a paddle before. The room was just full of energy and joy! At that moment, I realized table tennis is about so much more than learning how to play. It brings people together."

Seeing the kindness, patience, and enthusiasm of ATTC’s youth players who volunteered to participate in the event, Lekha realized the club had a unique opportunity to bridge two worlds. Rise & Rally was designed to do just that: give underserved youth a safe, welcoming space to build confidence, while giving ATTC’s own youth members a meaningful opportunity to grow as mentors and civic leaders.

A Look Inside the Program

The Rise & Rally program is structured to maximize both high-energy fun and personal growth. The initial phase of the program will run once a month on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM, with a tentative 2026 schedule kicking off on August 8, 2026.

Each 90-minute session is carefully mapped out to ensure a great experience:

• Welcome & Check-In (10 mins): Greeting participants, verifying attendance, and distributing name tags.

• Learn-to-Play Session (10–15 mins): Introducing basic paddle grips, forehand/backhand strokes, rules, and safety.

• Fun Activity Session (55–60 mins): Diving into high-energy group favorites like "Around-the-World" and "King of the Table".

• Reflection & Debrief (10 mins): Sharing favorite moments and lessons learned over free pre-packaged drinks and snacks provided by ATTC.

The program is launching with a fantastic network of initial community partners, including Big Brothers Big Sisters and YouthLaunch.

To ensure top-tier guidance, ATTC’s incredible coaching team—Coach Shahin, Coach Clayton, Coach Hazel, and Coach Shooka—have generously volunteered to oversee the activities and provide instruction.

Behind the Scenes: Interview Spotlights

D.J. Powers

We asked supervisor D.J. Powers and program manager Lekha Subbaiah to get their personal takes on this exciting new chapter.

D.J. Powers: "I am excited to see Lekha shine"

With 30 years of experience running philanthropic services, D.J. is providing strategic backing, but he makes it clear that he has total confidence in Lekha's leadership. He is particularly passionate about the dual-impact nature of the program:

"My life passion has been to make children’s lives better, especially underprivileged kids, and the main goal of this program is to do just that," D.J. says. "Second, I am excited about the opportunity to have our youth learn the joy of volunteering... This program offers our youth the opportunity to mentor disadvantaged kids to not only learn how they can help make the world a better place, but to benefit themselves."

D.J. is betting that this project is just the beginning of a lifelong philanthropic legacy for Lekha.

"The club is already very proud of her table tennis accomplishments, but I believe we will be even more impressed with her stewardship of this program."

Lekha Subbaiah: Lifting Others Up

When asked what she is most excited about, Lekha pointed directly to the "unmeasurable moments" that happen on the court.

"The smiles after someone finally gets the ball over the net. A kid realizing they're capable of something they didn't think they could do. The friendships that start over a simple game of table tennis. Being a leader isn't about being the best player—it's about lifting other people up."

Our youth mentors will play a massive role in creating this supportive environment. To ensure a high standard of mentorship, youth volunteers must be at least 10 years old, hold a USATT rating of 1100+, and complete a mandatory 30-minute training session covering child safety, communication techniques, and engagement strategies.

How the ATTC Community Can Help

While Rise & Rally is highly cost-effective, its true fuel is community support.

Lekha outlines a few simple ways the ATTC family can get involved:

• Volunteer Your Time: Adult volunteers are needed to help with check-ins, participant supervision, and facility logistics (note: adult volunteers are strictly for operational supervision and do not participate in the coaching).

• Donate Equipment: A paddle donation program is being established at the club. Members can drop off gently used paddles and equipment into the designated collection boxes.

• Share a Smile: "Honestly, one of the most meaningful things our members can do doesn't cost anything at all," Lekha says. "Smile! Say hello to a new participant! Cheer a child on when they make a great shot! Those little moments can make someone feel like they belong, and sometimes that's more powerful than we realize."

The Austin Table Tennis Club has always been more than just a place to practice drills—it is a community. Let’s come together to make the Rise & Rally program a resounding success and help a new generation of players find their confidence, one rally at a time.