You Matter

Hoops tournament and fun day held in memory of Evan Rosenstock to raise awareness of teenage depression.

— Churchill and Bullis have joined together to host a basketball tournament and fun day this Sunday, Sept. 15 in honor and memory of Churchill varsity athlete Evan Rosenstock.

Rosenstock died of suicide on May 20, 2013. He was 16.

"We are looking to raise awareness about teen depression and suicide while inciting a cultural shift away from negativity, bullying, and abuse both on and off the court," according to the event website.

Erik Roberts is just one of Evan's friends at Churchill who worked with the Rosenstock family to start a movement called umttr (You Matter) that has a mission to "foster a community of students who are aware that they matter."

"We truly hope to bring some solace and closure to Evan's family, friends, teachers and mentors," according to Roberts. "We really wanted to take this tragic event that affected us all on the Churchill basketball team and turn it into an initiative that will have a positive impact on our community."

The Bullis School, 10601 Falls Road, will host umttr's inaugural 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament and Fun Day on Sunday, Sept. 15, from noon to 6 p.m. In addition to the tournament and skills workshops, there will be carnival games, arcade, amusements and prizes.

Proceeds will "support the formation of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Positive Coaching Alliance and to support research on teen depression and suicide prevention," according to the web site.

Steve Young, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and member of the Positive Coaching Alliance's National Advisory Board, says 70 percent of youth drop out of team sports by the age of 13 because "it just isn't fun anymore."

"When they quit, gone is the opportunity to teach important character building traits: self-confidence, resilience, teamwork, mental toughness, self control, respect for others," said Young.

Positive Coaching Alliance is a national non-profit developing “better athletes, better people” by working to provide all youth and high school athletes a positive, character-building youth sports experience.

Umttr seeks two purposes, according to its press release: to raise awareness of teen depression and suicide and to shift sports away from negative bullying and abuse and towards a team environment that is constructive and positive and fun.

General admission is free, and registered teams donate $25 per team member.

Rosenstock was an avid Capitals fan. Former Washington Capitals Yvon Labre and former Washington Wizards (Bullets) giant Gheorghe Mureshan, an assistant coach on Rosenstock's AAU basketball team, are just two of the celebrities who will attend the tournament.

Other events to raise awareness of depression and to educate teens on resources and supports available to them are scheduled later that day at Churchill High School.

See umttr.org for details and up-to-date information.