New, Maryland-Based Nonprofit Emphasizes Hope, Fight and Unity
ARNOLD, MD. — While life seemingly returns to normal, the need to support our COVID-19 frontline workers and researchers is still present. A new nonprofit based out of Anne Arundel County, Maryland is doing its part to get us there.
Unity Bands is an all-volunteer project designed to support COVID-19 response and research efforts and to improve community morale during the pandemic. All proceeds raised from the sale of these customized wristbands and other branded merchandise benefit the Baltimore Washington Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical Center’s COVID-19 response and the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s research efforts.
June will be a big month for the Unity Bands team as three fundraising events are lined up. A 50/50 raffle will kickoff June 1 sponsored by Stefan Holtz of Northrop Realty. On June 3, Umami Meditteranean Kitchen in Catonsville will host a giveback event, donating 10% of sales to the Unity Bands mission. Finally, 1,000 of the wristbands will be given to fans at a Bowie Baysox game on Friday, June 18, courtesy of the Williams Home Team Gifting for Gratitude program. “It’s unreal,” founder, John Schirrippa, said of the events lined up, “We are partnered with such big-hearted people.”
The idea for Unity Bands came to Schirrippa in March 2020 as stay-at-home orders started going into place. Mr. Schirrippa is a Defense Department civilian and active member of the Annapolis-Anne Arundel County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), holding an M.S. degree in Emergency Services Management.
“The gravity of the situation hit me when the streets cleared, highway signs urged people to stay at home, and office parking lots emptied,” Schirrippa said. “I felt that what we, as a society, had worked so hard for was all in jeopardy; threatened to be taken away by an invisible threat. If you look at the tragedies of our time including natural and manmade disasters, the local communities generally rally together well. People help each other. Differences are put aside. Resources pour in. And customized images and symbols are created to unify the local community.”
While he volunteered with CERT at the Odenton COVID-19 donations center, Schirrippa knew he needed to do more. In November 2020, Unity Bands became a reality. A Brazilian graphics designer created the memorable, green Unity Bands logo representing the nonprofit’s ethos: hope, fight and unity. Hope: No matter how bad things seem to get, there is always hope, and it is hope that will carry us through to the other side. Fight: We are at war with COVID-19 and there is still more fighting to be done. We must continue to fight this disease, and that means taking proper precautions all the time. Unity: We are all in this together, which is the reasoning for the green color. In January 2021, Schirrippa’s cousin, Peter Caserta, a renowned chef and business owner, passed away due to COVID-19. Schirrippa vowed to continue Unity Bands efforts in honor of his cousin.
The goals of Unity Bands are to raise $10,000 for COVID-19 response and research efforts and to create a global sense of unity as we all continue to fight the disease. As of May. 18, 2021, Unity Bands donated over $6,000 to the Maryland medical facilities. More than 500 bands were shipped to 14 U.S. states, as well as overseas to the United Kingdom, Brazil and Italy, with wider reach on the horizon. The Unity Bands project is also partnered with Garry’s Grill in Severna Park and the Severna Park Kiwanis Club who coordinated with six local high schools to compete for who could sell the most bands.