HP_022218

10 | February 22, 2018 | The highland park landmark news
hplandmark.com
Easy Hoops partners with Highland Park-based company
Raises money for
autism at Highland
Park event
Eric DeGrechie
Managing Editor
Ethan Rosen may have
global business aspirations
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in mind for his future, but
he’s currently focusing on
making entrepreneurial
waves here on the North
Shore.
The New Trier junior
created his own company,
Easy Hoops, this past September,
to provide a safe
environment for everyone
to be themselves, try
new things and meet new
people through the sport of
basketball.
“Basketball has always
been a huge part of my life.
I was always the player on
the court that knew what to
do, but had trouble doing
it,” Rosen said. “I’m short.
I had to take a different approach
to basketball.”
Rosen, 17, of Glencoe,
opted to start coaching a
few years back. He has
worked with the travel
team in the Glencoe Park
District. He also coached at
camps. Combining his love
of the game, his desire to
do service work and growing
business savviness led
to starting Easy Hoops.
“[Last summer] I was
talking to kids and family,
they told me that I should
do something with basketball.
They said I was making
an impact by teaching
kids sports, but that there’s
more I can do,” Rosen said.
“There was more I could
do on a broader scope and
who I could impact in the
long run.”
Rosen recently partnered
up with Aspiritech,
a company out of Highland
Park, to put on an
Easy Hoops basketball
event. Held at the Jewish
Council for Youth Services
Lutz Family Center
on Feb. 4, Rosen and his
team worked with people
of all ages and abilities on
basketball and life skills.
The New Trier varsity
boys basketball team also
made an appearance at the
vent. In addition, money
was raised for the Autism
Speaks Foundation.
“My mission is to provide
a safe space and opportunity
for kids with
Easy Hoops employees enjoy playing basketball.
physical and intellectual
disabilities to be free and
feel comfortable socially,”
Rosen said. “They also
gain this athletic experience
and exercise in a nonjudgemental,
conforming
environment.”
With Easy Hoops, the
program molds around the
kids versus the typical setup
in other organizations
that practice the reverse.
Easy Hoops, which raises
money for various organizations,
tries to revolve lessons
around a specific value
or virtue at each event,
according to Rosen. Some
examples include courage,
perseverance, determination,
teamwork and more.
Please see autism, 13
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The Easy Hoops team (left to right) Max Drexler, photo and video; Julia Ellis,
volunteer management; Ethan Rosen, founder; Jackson Goldman, coach; and Will
Pfeffer, marketing; meet up at a recent event at JCYS Lutz Family Center in Highland
Park. Photos submitted