Rally for Her: How DUPR and Leveling the Fields Are Getting More Girls in the Game

The new philanthropic project is focused on eliminating the barriers of access and opportunity that prevent girls from participating in sports

What may be the greatest asset of pickleball is how it creates a sense of belonging. The pickleball community is using this same type of energy for the purpose of increasing the number of girls playing the sport.

DUPR has partnered with Leveling the Fields (LTF), a non-profit organization that provides free after-school sports programs for girls in underserved communities, to create “Rally For Her,” a new philanthropic project focused solely on eliminating the barriers of access and opportunity that prevent girls from participating in sports.

What's Really Going On

A major fundraiser will take place on September 26th at The Fort in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

This event will include top-level players, coaches, clubs, brands, and professionals. All proceeds from player registrations, sponsorships, and fundraising events go directly to support LTF.

 The event will feature more than just tournament-style play. There will be exhibition games, sponsor activation areas, and community challenge stations.

“As we continue to grow the sport, we have a responsibility to provide opportunities for growth in order to give every girl the opportunity to participate," says DUPR Chief Operating Officer Tito Machado.

 Leveling the Fields Founder Melyssa Jaskiewicz agrees:

Stats That Support the Movement

While the rally for girls movement is a positive and inspirational story, there is substantial evidence supporting its validity.

According to The Women's Sports Foundation's 2024 Play To Lead Study, approximately 71% of women who participated in sports held a formal leadership position. Furthermore, nearly 70% of these women achieved executive positions such as manager, director, president, or C-suite executive.

Additionally, according to research conducted by WSF, female high school athletes are 92% less likely to use illicit substances compared to their non-athletic counterparts. Moreover, female high school athletes are 80% more likely to graduate from high school.

Unfortunately, despite the many benefits associated with participation in sports, girls experience an estimated 1.3 million fewer high school athletic opportunities annually than boys do.

This gap is precisely where Leveling the Fields operates. Based in Charleston, SC, the organization was founded in 2015 and serves Title I and rural schools exclusively. As a volunteer-run organization, it provides free, on-site multi-sport programs,  including its EmpowerPlay and PlayFit programs, to girls who would not normally have had access to play sports.

Meet Some of the Women Supporting Rally for Her

One of the key components making Rally For Her successful is the presence of well-known women within the pickle ball community.

• One such woman is The Dink writer and content creator Emily Visnic, who transitioned from being an elite alpine skier to a pickleballer, a career that she never anticipated.
• Another multi-club athlete, CourtPass Co-Founder Mary, has expressed that the confidence generated through sports transcends beyond any post-game scores.
• The Dinks On Tap Duo, consisting of Kaitlin Miller and Lydia Hert, is committed to creating opportunities for future generations of girls to visualize themselves as participants, coaches, and tournament directors, not merely spectators.

Getting Involved

Unable to attend the rally in Fort Lauderdale on September 26? You can still register to play or donate funds directly to assist in expanding access to sports for girls and young women.