Helen believes in the power of playing sports for all. After being introduced to pickleball, a mini-tennis-like game, Helen saw the potential for people of all ages and abilities to play this lifetime, intergenerational sport. In 2012, she became the USA Pickleball Ambassador for Northern Virginia and began promoting and teaching pickleball throughout the DC area. Since then, she has led over 200 Introduction to Pickleball sessions for older adults, teachers, sports administrators, condo residents, college students, Native Americans, cancer survivors, kids, and even soldiers, and has taught almost 3,000 people how to play. She also organizes pickleball socials, tournaments and other special events and competes in local, regional, and national tournaments.
In 2015, she began serving as the USA Pickleball District Ambassador for Northeast Virginia and Washington, D.C. and guides a team of almost 20 local area ambassadors who promote pickleball.
Since 2016, she has directed the Mid-Atlantic Open Pickleball Tournament in Arlington, a popular sanctioned event for 300+ players. This all-volunteer-run event benefits the Parkinson’s Foundation of the National Capital Area and Educate the Girls, Inc, and is organized through Breakthrough Community Sports, Inc., Helen’s non-profit organization that promotes active living through playing sports.
In 2019, she began teaching pickleball at the Burke Racquet & Swim Club. She also teaches in Arlington County, the City of Falls Church and Fairfax County.
She is a Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) Certified Coach.
