The A24 film Marty Supreme brings the world of table tennis into the cultural spotlight, it also quietly parallels a powerful real-life story behind the sport. Appearing in two scenes in the film is Yasiris Ortiz, a professional table tennis champion and Bronx-based community leader whose journey from international competition to grassroots youth empowerment mirrors the film’s central themes of discipline, belief, and dreaming beyond circumstance. Ortiz’s appearance in Marty Supreme is not a performance in the traditional sense; she is not portraying a fictional character, but rather bringing authenticity to the screen as a real athlete whose life has been shaped by the sport. For Ortiz, table tennis has never been just a game; it has been a tool for transformation, one she now uses to create opportunity for young people across New York City. Born and raised in Bayaguana, Dominican Republic, Ortiz discovered table tennis at a young age and quickly fell in love with the sport after competing in her first tournament. That passion carried her beyond her hometown and onto the international stage, representing the Dominican Republic as a member of the national table tennis team at the cadet, junior, and senior levels. Through competition, she traveled the world and learned firsthand how sport can open doors far beyond what once seemed possible. In 2016, Ortiz moved to New York City with her family, facing the challenges of adapting to a new country, learning English, continuing her education, and rebuilding her athletic life from the ground up. Unsure whether she would be able to continue competing, she spent countless hours riding the subway across the city in search of table tennis clubs where she could practice and stay connected to the sport that had shaped her identity. What began as persistence soon became purpose. That purpose crystallized when Ortiz began teaching table tennis at an elementary school in the South Bronx. There, she witnessed something transformative: students arrived to class excited, engaged, and eager to learn. Through table tennis, they developed focus, confidence, discipline, and joy—qualities that carried into the classroom and beyond. As interest grew, neighboring schools began reaching out, and what started as a single program evolved into Spin & Learn, an education and wellness organization founded in 2020 that integrates table tennis with academics, physical fitness, and social-emotional learning (SEL). Since its launch, Spin & Learn has partnered with more than 45 public schools across New York City, serving thousands of K–12 students through in-school enrichment, after-school programming, wellness days, assemblies, and author visits connected to Ortiz’s children’s book, “Yasi the Champion.” The organization has become known for meeting students where they are, using movement and play to build lifelong skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging. It delivers high-quality programming at scale through its strategic partnerships with leaders in the global table tennis industry, including Paddle Palace, the leading equipment supplier in North America, and Stiga Sports as Ortiz’s official partner. Now, as Marty Supreme brings renewed visibility to the sport, Ortiz is marking a new chapter with the official launch of the Spin & Learn Foundation, a newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to expand access to table tennis, wellness, and enrichment programs beyond the school setting and into the broader community. The Spin & Learn Foundation was created because families kept asking for a place where their children could continue training after leaving their school programs. Ortiz saw how quickly access could disappear once students moved on, even though the interest and talent were still there. The Foundation is about creating continuity, making sure young people and families have a place to grow, train, and belong. While Spin & Learn operates primarily within schools, the Foundation is focused on long-term, community-based impact. Its mission is to provide programs for economically disadvantaged individuals across diverse communities, ensuring access to enrichment opportunities through table tennis that promote physical and mental wellness, build personal resilience, and develop leadership skills for lifelong success. Through future partnerships with community centers and shared spaces, the Foundation aims to serve not only youth, but also families, adults, and seniors who may not otherwise have access to structured recreational and wellness programming. Ortiz sees a meaningful connection between the themes of Marty Supreme and the work she has spent years building, noting that she relates deeply to the film because she came to this country without a clear path, driven only by a dream. Everything she has built since then, including a table tennis program that has reached thousands of students, started with believing in that dream. As table tennis ...
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