They traded in their Fordham baseball and softball gloves for exam gloves. They took off their Fordham football helmets and donned protective masks. Instead of passing the ball, they hand out assists of a different nature. They run to danger instead of a finish line. They used to clear the way for running back, now they clear the way for emergency vehicles. They come from different sports but the one thing the former Fordham student-athletes have in common is that they are on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak. Doctors, nurses, policemen, EMT, firefighters, grocery store workers, they all are there when called upon, living out the Jesuit ideal of men and women for others.
 
Today we recognize former men's basketball Ram Nihad Musovic, GABELLI '15, President at 6th Boro Hoops, whose father owns Briska Grocery on Arthur Avenue.
 
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of Briska Grocery but that didn't mean that Musovic and his family where just going to sit around. They came up with the idea to allow customers to purchase gift baskets which would be delivered to local hospitals as a way of showing appreciation to the hard-working hospital staffs, who put their safety on the line every day. The care packages featured an assortment of groceries to help the workers stay replenished without having to leave the hospital.
 
Packages were delivered all over New York City, from Brooklyn to the Bronx, and to Westchester. But all workers had the same reaction when presented with their gifts according to Musovic.
 
"For anyone who wants to know how hard these people are working I can promise you by the sound of their sighs of relief when they walk outside for 30 seconds to take in our packages that they are emptying their tanks, both emotionally and physically, every day," said Musovic.
 
Musovic shared a note he received from one of the doctors who received a package: "I wanted to thank you so much for the care package you sent to St. John's Riverside Hospital. Your thoughtfulness will indeed go a long way in helping us continue to combat COVID-19 and help as many people as we can achieve recovery. As a fellow Bronx resident I want to additionally offer my gratitude for all that you do in our community."
 
The initiative was able to deliver over 100 packages over a 15-day period, to morning, afternoon and overnight crews. Musovic even got his 6th Boro Hoops players involved as they provided handwritten notes to the hospital workers to let them know we are all there with them.
 
Throughout it all, Musovic was been able to lean on the liberal arts education he received at Fordham to try and make sense of the situation. One of his favorite ways to cope was by quoting author Kurt Vonnegut. Some of his favorites:
 
"A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved."
 
"Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone."
 
"It's been an unbelievable experience to have been able to help our heroes," said Musovic. "I can't thank everyone for their shares, support, donations and messages."