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Terps Unite

The University of Maryland Alumni Association, the Terp Entrepreneur Network, and the Office of Innovation and Economic Development are uniting our efforts to empower the Terp Community during this crisis. Please take a moment to read our message - learn how we are working together and learn how we can support fellow Terps. "United We Stand."

First and foremost, we sincerely hope you and your families are safe and healthy as we face an unprecedented global health and economic crisis.

As fellow Terps, we know that now more than ever it is vital that we band together to support one another through these uncertain and challenging times. It is in these moments of great need, where we find the strength and courage to do what we can by leveraging our collective assets for the greater good.

To that end, we are humbled to provide the Terp community with practical information on ways we (students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and family) can endure and persevere throughout the coming weeks and months.

On this page, you will be able to access and learn about:

  • Terps supporting Terps and how you can receive help from fellow Terps,

  • economic resources that have become available to aid Terps affected by COVID-19;

  • several ways for each of us to Do Good in our communities by donating, volunteering, sharing, and caring;

  • and free resources available to Terps by the University and by fellow Terps.

We will continue to update and add more resources, as well as provide links to other relevant information as we learn about it. Please share any useful content and links you know of by emailing us at innovate@umd.edu.

Go Terps!


Business Resources And Information

With the outbreak of this novel coronavirus, many enterprises, organizations, institutions, communities, and people have been negatively impacted. This section contains a list of resources that are dedicated to providing support during this ongoing crisis.

If you’re looking for guidance on how to navigate the Federal SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan process and/or the Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief options, please contact UMD's SBDC liaison Grier Melick for assistance at jmelick@umd.edu or 443-577-8835.

There has never been a more critical time to support the Terp community and small businesses. If you are a Terp business owner or know of a Terp-owned business, we want to hear from you!

Share the company name and website, the name and class year(s) of the Terp owner, and a one sentence description of the services that are provided or offered on your network Facebook page(s), listed below.

Make sure to follow the hashtag #TerpBusiness (and use it in any of your #TerpBusiness posts), and follow your regional or affinity alumni network groups to see how your community can participate. 

Don't see your network listed? Click here for the full listing of alumni networks.

Maryland SBDC

Prince George's County

State of Maryland

Virginia

  • Virginia 30 Day Fund - The non-profit Virginia 30 Day Fund provides forgivable loans for Virginia-based small businesses. The forgivable loan is intended to provide immediate financial assistance (within maximum three days) to meet payroll, preserve healthcare coverage for employees and save jobs while they await recently approved federal funding. 
  • Virginia Small Business Development Center

Washington, DC

Please make sure to check out this Google Doc Presentation by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Washington Metropolitan Area District Office titled:

America's Small Business Development Center

Association of Women's Business Centers

Federal

SCORE

  • Coronavirus Small Business Resource Hub - SCORE is committed to helping businesses like yours through the unprecedented challenges from the coronavirus outbreak.
  • Request a Mentor - Mentors are available to participate in remote mentoring sessions via phone, email, and video.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

  • Expanding Innovation Hub - An online platform available on the USPTO website that provides resources for inventors and practitioners to encourage greater participation in the patent system. The new platform is yet another step the USPTO has taken to broaden the innovation ecosphere, to inspire novel inventions, to accelerate growth, and to drive America’s global competitive edge.
  • Patent Pro Bono Program - This is a nationwide network of independently operated regional programs that match volunteer patent professionals with financially under-resourced inventors and small businesses for the purpose of securing patent protection. Each regional program provides services for residents of one or more states. Please watch this short series of videos to learn more.
  • Relief for USPTO Customers affected by COVID-19 - USPTO considers the effects of coronavirus to be an "extraordinary situation" within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.183 and 37 CFR 2.146 for affected patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners. Therefore, the USPTO is waiving petition fees in certain situations for customers impacted by the coronavirus. This notice does not grant waivers or extensions of dates or requirements set by statute. 

 

More Resources

 

  • Forbes Small Business Relief Tracker - Funding, Grants and Resources for Business Owners Grappling with Coronavirus.
  • IFundWomen (IFW) COVID-19 Relief Campaign Grants - The IFW COVID-19 Relief Fund provides microgrants to women-owned businesses that are being impacted by this crisis. One can donate to the Relief Fund now or start a campaign on IFW to be considered to receive a grant! Grants are distributed on a rolling basis. 
  • Red Backpack Fund - Backed by billionaire Spanx founder Sara Blakely, whose “lucky” college book bag inspired its name, the $5 million fund is donating $5,000 grants to 1,000 female entrepreneurs. The fund is accepting applications in cycles starting on May 4, June 1, July 6, and August 3. Sign up to be notified of these dates.
  • SHEAMOISTURE Community Commerce Fund - The beauty brand announced a $1 million campaign to support minority business owners. While the fund’s grant applications appear closed, women of color entrepreneurs can still enroll in an e-learning lab to “gain education, access to resources, mentorship, and advice on how to prepare for the economic downturn” from Sundial Brands, Unilever, and Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.
  • Tory Burch Foundation - Empowering Women Entrepreneurs with resources for small businesses during COVID-19.
  • VISA Foundation - The Visa Foundation pledged $200 million over five years, to be distributed in $60 million grants to NGOs that support small and micro businesses worldwide, with a focus on women’s empowerment.
  • Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) COVID-19 Resource Center - Resources and opportunities for women-owned businesses ranging from financial aid options to business support and much more.

Do Good Terps

Many people and communities are suffering greatly including fellow Terps. Here are several ways each of us can help those in need, as well as inspirational stories of how fellow Terps are doing good.

Volunteer Your Time, Talent, Treasure, Energy & Provide Service

  • AARP Community Connections - Get Help. Give Help. Find a mutual aid group to provide support to others.
  • America's Blood Centers and American Red Cross - With thousands of blood drives across the country canceled because of the outbreak, the American Red Cross and America’s Blood Centers announced on Tuesday that the US is facing a “severe blood shortage”. The organizations encouraged anyone who is healthy and eligible to give blood or platelets, to make an appointment today.
  • Baltimore Community ToolBank - Provides free tools for first responders and the organization is being proactive and inclusive by offering needed supplies to first responders.
  • DMV Fighting COVID - Personal protective equipment (PPE) is in short supply to those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. This organization is providing PPE to these individuals so that they have the protective gear they need in order to stay safe. Consider volunteering or donating to this organization.
  • Get Us PPE - This organization is working to mitigate the critical shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by helping to provide healthcare workers, who are front line fighters against COVID-19, with those who have PPE or can provide funding for PPE.
  • Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps - Volunteer today for this force of dedicated medical volunteers. Now recruiting active and retired health care professionals, medical students, and other interested volunteers.
  • Narrate a short story from your phone and help 40,000 learn to read.
  • Read and share stories of hope and resilience to break up the news cycle.
  • UMD Bioengineering Graduate Student Society - The BGSS is collecting donations for local hospitals including Face Masks, Testing Swabs, Medical Gloves, Disposable Lab Coats, Shoe Covers and Safety Glasses. Contact Christina Conrad to donate: cconrad8@terpmail.umd.edu.
  • UMD Virtual Services 24/7 - This online directory contains a list of organizations that provide human services from after school programs to housing and foreclosure assistance to veteran services.

Provide financial support and make an impact on the areas that matter to you and your community.

University Community

Local Community

Global Community

  • WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund - Donations support WHO’s work to track and understand the spread of the virus; to ensure patients get the care they need and frontline workers get essential supplies and information; and to accelerate efforts to develop vaccines, tests, and treatments.

Donate Food, Volunteer to Pack Boxes, Volunteer to Deliver Meals, and Provide Financial Support

  • Bread for the City - Bread for the City is comprehensively responding to COVID-19 with expanded community partnerships, continual medical care, and responsible and creative programming so that we can meet our community’s needs.
  • Capital Area Food Bank - This food bank is still serving D.C. area neighbors who are food insecure during these uncertain times
  • College Park Community Food Bank - Support this local food bank, which serves the greater College Park community, by donating food or funds.
  • Maryland Food Bank - As essential second responders, the Maryland Food Bank is working diligently to continue core operations amidst this public health crisis. For 40 years, we’ve served as the hub of the food assistance safety net, and we will continue to be here for our neighbors in need, especially during times of uncertainty.
  • Meals on Wheels - This organization provides support and safety-net services to seniors—a population that needs extra support during this crisis.
  • Moveable Feast - Moveable Feast cares for men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses by preparing and delivering nutritious meals and groceries and providing nutritional counseling and other services. The service area spans 14 counties and Baltimore City.
  • No Kid Hungry - As schools close to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the State of Maryland is working to ensure that students have all the meals they need. No Kid Hungry is providing additional support nationwide.
  • UMD Campus Pantry - It’s mission is to alleviate food insecurity among students, faculty and staff by providing emergency food. Donations Sought as Economic Fallout of COVID-19 Contributes to Food Insecurity.

Read how Terps across campus and the country are making a positive impact during this pandemic.

Are you leading an effort to Do Good now? Do you know of one?

Connect and share with Do Good Institute on social media @DoGoodatUMD, where you can also read more stories of inspiration.


Terps Sharing & Caring

When Terps Unite, we can do more together and that is why we’re leveraging the resources of the TEN, the UMD community, and the Alumni Network to share what we have with each other.

Terps all over the world are doing incredible things and some are generous enough to share what they have with fellow Terps.

Free Services Offered by Terps

  • Chat Health - Utilize this service developed by UMD students who have launched a not-for-profit organization aimed at improving health literacy and are currently utilizing their solution to provide resources and technological tools for users to stay healthy during the pandemic.
  • Evolving Minds - Participate in a free weekly mindfulness live stream offered every Thursday at 7pm @ourevolvingminds facebook page.
  • Insperity - This full-service HR firm is offering several webinars filled with practical information to help people focus and find the best path for companies and their employees. Contact Matt Sternberger at Matt.sternberger@insperity.com with any questions.
  • Ro - This healthcare technology start-up is offering a free on-line assessment for the novel coronavirus at https://covid.ro.co/. It has created a telehealth triage service for people seeking guidance and information about COVID-19. Contact UMD alumna MJ Abdul-Majid, Ro's Legal Director, for more information at Mujadala@ro.co.
  • Toucan - This platform, which connects entrepreneurs with college students who are talented graphic designers, videographers, and photographers, is offering free Instagram consulting to fellow Terp business owners. Please contact Shyon Parsadoust at shy@toucanfamily.com for more information.

Discounted Services Offered by Terps

SBA Loan, Tax & Accounting Advisory Services

Work with tax, accounting, and advisory firms to navigate the SBA loan process and learn how to manage your financial situation. Additional discounted services may be available depending on the organization.

  • PSA CPA - As a member of a multi-generational Terp family, President Parminder Ahuja,'84 is humbled to offer his service by providing a free 30 minute consultation to navigate the SBA PPP loan. He will also offer a 20% discount off  fees for consulting, tax preparation or accounting for the first year. Contact Parminder directly at sonny@psacpa.com.
  • Silver & Dackman - Brian Silver, Partner '13 and his colleagues who are Small Business experts are working in working in tandem with many banks in the region. They are ready to help small businesses put together loan packages for SBA loans. Click here to sign up for a free one hour consultation, learn about discounted services and stay updated on the latest COVID-19 Small Business news!

Legal Services

Sign up for a free 1-hour consultation on how to navigate various legal issues including intellectual property, corporation/commercial and litigation. Additional discounted services may be available depending on the organization.

Corporate & Commercial

  • Cornerstone Counsel, LLC - Principal Dan Connors '82 and his firm will provide access to a wide range of corporate, commercial and regulatory compliance advice to early stage startups and emerging growth companies. Cornerstone Counsel can assist you with resolving an immediate legal problem or cost-effectively act as your in-house lawyer managing all your in-house legal and regulatory compliance operations onsite or remotely. Contact Dan at danconnors1@gmail.com.

Intellectual Property

  • Berenato & White, LLC - Corinne Pouliquen, '89, a partner at this firm, which provides legal services in the area of intellectual property (patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret). Also, assists with obtaining IP protection, issuing freedom-to-operate opinions, as well as enforcing and defending IP rights.  Negotiates transactions and drafts contracts involving IP rights. And they provide guidance on how to strategize IP protection and preserve IP rights worldwide during the Covid-19 and ensuing economic crisis. Contact Corinne at cpouliquen@bw-iplaw.com.

Litigation

  • The Law Office of Richard H. Melnick '82 - Rich provides guidance navigating federal, state and local procurement laws and regulations; handling contracts, IT, IP, and other business transactions and matters; and, both representing clients, and serving as an arbitrator or mediator, in business litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Contact him at richard@richardmelnicklaw.com.

If you have a service or resource that you want to offer for free to fellow Terps, please submit your information here.

The following resources are available to alumni, though not all are free; some require a valid sign-in.

Office of Innovation & Economic Development Resources

University of Maryland Alumni Association Professional Development Services

Terrapin Entrepreneur Network (TEN)

Do Good Institute

  • COVID-19 Resource Hub - This hub includes curated resources for volunteering, giving back, feeling good, and financial relief.
  • Apply for Do Good Support - If you are in need of additional support to enhance or launch a COVID-19 related project, then apply for funding.
  • Educational Resources - Looking to raise funds or demonstrate the impact of your cause through storytelling, take a look at this content. 

Robert H. Smith School of Business

  • Articles - Free business-related articles on dealing with the pandemic including tax advice, protecting your supply chain, and how to prepare for a Zoom job interview.
  • Free Webinar Series - Listen to faculty experts on supply chain, financial risk management, and global economic share insights on who will set context, potential implications, and discuss solutions for you and your business during these uncertain times.

Department of Economics

  • Articles - UMD faculty are contributing to the set of facts, economic analysis. and proposals related to COVID-19 including this one in the New York Times where Professor Katharine Abraham shares her expertise.

School of Public Health

  • In partnership with Johns Hopkins and George Washington University has developed and maintained a collection of resources regarding COVID-19 through the Social Media for Public Health website.

Terrapin Innovation Network (TIN) - Connect with innovative students, alumni, faculty, staff, and investors

University of Maryland Linkedin Learning - Take online courses and gain skills through this platform, which is available to all UMD students, faculty, and staff for free. You will need to login using your umd.edu account.

 

Nothing is as important as your health and well-being, as well as the health and well-being of your loved ones. During this stressful time, please take the time to take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. There are a variety of ways to stay in good spirits and just as many resources available to help you through those challenging moments. Please utilize these resources when necessary.

University Mental Health Resources (for UMD students, faculty, and staff)

National Counseling Support

Do Good Institute

  • Reach out to family and friends. Use this time at home to check in with a loved one and people you care about. Schedule a virtual coffee date or happy hour.
  • Have grace. Recognize that this is a hard and stressful time for many people. Keep this in mind as you navigate throughout your day and offer people the benefit of the doubt, understanding that we are all doing the best we can. This includes yourself! Be patient with yourself and others and be kind to each other. We are all in this together.
  • Support those around you. Whether this is ordering takeout from a local restaurant, or buying art from local artists or businesses you know aren’t operating as usual, make the effort to offer support, if you can.

Psychology Department

  • Parenting Through a Pandemic - Clinical Psychology professor, Andrea Chronis-Tuscano, who specializes in parenting and parent mental health, offers tips for families to enjoy (mandatory) togetherness.

School of Public Health

Advice from SPH's The Well Terp

  • Walk for 5-10 Minutes: Tap into your physical and mental well-being by enjoying a nice walk around your neighborhood or you can even take a few minutes to walk in place.
  • Breathe using the  4-7-8 Technique: Practice this breathing technique which takes less than a minute. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and exhale for 8 seconds.
  • Enjoy a Healthy Recipe: Vegetable spring rolls are a healthy plant based meal. Make your own by this recipe by the American Heart Association.
  • Touch Base Virtually: Use Google Chat or Zoom to stay connected with friends and colleagues. Have a virtual lunch or happy hour.

SPH Articles for Families and Children

Virus Anxiety, a Project by Shine

  • Care for your coronavirus anxiety by utilizing these resources for anxiety and your mental health in a global climate of uncertainty. Resources range from articles and asking a mental health expert to suggestions for taking a break and free meditation activities.

Free Workout Videos

  • CorePower Yoga on Demand - Watch these select videos for practicing yoga.
  • Fitness Blender - Watch these select videos to find exercises to stay physically active.
  • Yoga with Adriene - Adriene hosts the YouTube channel, Yoga with Adriene, an online community of over 6 million subscribers. She publishes free Yoga Videos and has a library of over 500 free videos and growing.

Stay Updated with the Terp Community

Find out the latest information on the University of Maryland's and the TEN's responses regarding COVID-19, as well as other related resources through the new University Relations Keep Together webpage and the College of Arts & Humanities Keep Creating website.

Maryland M

University of Maryland

The University of Maryland has developed an official page for keeping connected while the current global pandemic requires it to operate in an online environment. This site provides guidance and strategies to keep connected with UMD.

Keep Connected
TEN logo

Terp Entrepreneur Network

Gain access to resources, tools, upcoming virtual events and networking opportunities with your fellow enTERPreneurs.  Also, subscribe for regular updates on new resources being offered in response to the coronavirus.

Subscribe to the TEN
These are extraordinary times. Our world has changed. Yet the University of Maryland continues to advance unbowed in carrying out its mission of education, research, innovation and service to our state and the world. Terps are separated by distance, but connected in spirit. By supporting each other, we will emerge from this pandemic with strength, pride and #ShellsUnited.