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CONNECTIONS
Photo by Tony Richards
CONNECTIONS
RAHUL VINOD ’11
SAHIL RAHMAN ’12
Photo by Tony Richards
Photo by Tony Richards
EVAN LUTZ ’14
ALI VON PARIS ’12
JASON HERSHMAN ’11
ANDY SHALLAL, MBA ’19
BRIEF CASE
HOW WE CAME TOGETHER, SEPARATELY
In the face of unprecedented challenge, Maryland Smith alumni responded,
with unprecedented compassion and fearless leadership.
FACE FIRST, SHOWING MARYLAND PRIDE
In April, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan
attended a news conference wearing a bold new
accessory for these times: a red surgical-style
mask bearing the message “Maryland Strong.”
It was a new creation from Route One Apparel,
a retailer specializing in state pride products
founded by Ali von Paris ’12. Amid the pandemic,
its daily production pivoted from T-shirts and
bikinis to Maryland-themed masks. For each mask
ordered, Route One donated another to healthcare workers.
“It’s another shining example of the very spirit of
our Maryland Unites initiative,” Hogan said.
The company’s flag-themed fanny pack
meanwhile became a staple in medical offices
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across Maryland, after Route One donated its
entire supply to healthcare workers. “Whenever
we can help keep those on the front line—our dear
customers—safe,” said von Paris, “it’s a win-win.”
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Amid the pandemic, Evan Lutz’s business was
booming. His Baltimore-based Hungry Harvest
rescues misshapen, ugly produce and delivers
them to customers at a discount—a service that
became more attractive than ever during stay-athome orders.
They added employees while ramping up the
other half of the company’s mission: fighting
hunger. Hunger, too, was seeing a surge.
Hungry Harvest more than doubled its
charitable giving, giving thousands of pounds of
produce a week to those who needed it most. It
also connected with community organizations,
offering a new Emergency Food Box at very low
cost to be distributed free.
“It’s been wonderful to see this community of
people that we typically work with come together
and rally around the cause to get people food,”
said Lutz ’14.
PAINTING A PICTURE OF HOPE IN THE DMV
As Busboys and Poets founder Andy Shallal,
MBA ’19, fixed a shattered window from a break-in
at his restaurant chain's Anacostia location, he saw
an opportunity to turn misfortune into inspiration.
He picked up his brushes, and painted the
rhsmith.umd.edu
words “Busboys [heart] Anacostia” across the
black plywood.
What came next surprised him—an
outpouring of support from the community.
He realized he could spread positivity wider,
so he painted the windows of his 14th Street
D.C. location with the message, “In Dark Times,
Shine Your Light Brighter.” And the idea caught
on from there.
“Instead of people walking around having
their heads down and feeling isolated from
one another,” he said, “why not spread some
positive messages and help people feel
connected with their humanity?”
26.2 MILES FOR CORONAVIRUS RELIEF
Jason Hershman ’11 was running more than
ever in hopes of setting a personal record at
the 2020 Boston Marathon. But the event was
cancelled because of COVID-19.
Hershman didn’t let that break his stride. He
decided to host a “virtual marathon,” to raise
money for the CDC Foundation’s Coronavirus
Emergency Response Fund.
“I felt I needed to do something or contribute
in some way.”
rhsmith-editor@umd.edu
VEDANT SABOO
MIKE WEBER ’14
On May 1, 2020, participants in his Coronavirus Relief Virtual Run stepped outside to walk
or run—at least six feet apart. His goal was
to raise $1,000 for the response fund, which
would deploy emergency staffing to public
health agencies and provide food and medical
supplies to quarantined people.
Hershman more than doubled his goal—
a testament, he said, to his sport and to
its community.
SERVING THE COMMUNITY IN NEW WAYS
Rahul Vinod ’11 and Sahil Rahman ’12 knew
when they first opened the doors to RASA that
they wanted it to be more than a successful
fast-casual Indian restaurant. They wanted it to
be connected to its community in D.C.’s Navy
Yard neighborhood.
In the pandemic, it flexed that connectivity
and made a difference in people’s lives.
RASA closed its doors to in-dining business,
but provided free takeout meals for all hospital
workers, schoolchildren and RASA’s own team
members and their families.
“Community and connection have always
been at the heart of what we do at RASA,”
Vinod said. “The least we can do is offer our
front-line hospital workers free meals.”
"TREATING" FRONT-LINE WORKERS
With the fight to treat COVID-19 patients
in full force at hospitals, Mike Weber ’14
wanted to help. He watched as his wife and her
colleagues at Philadelphia’s Thomas Jefferson
University Hospital worked long, intense shifts
in the ICU.
As the co-founder of fruit-based ice cream
company Frutero, Weber didn’t have face
masks or PPE to donate.
But he and business partner Vedant Saboo
realized there was something they could do.
They started dropping off ice cream to hospital
staff as a thank you for their dedication.
In less than two weeks, they had delivered
more than 1,000 ice creams to staff at seven
Philadelphia-area hospitals. And, they
launched an online order business to expand
their ability to donate more. For each ice
cream a customer ordered online, the cofounders would donate one to hospital staff.
“We’ll just continue doing this until this
coronavirus is over,” said Weber.
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