Special to the Sun
April 20, 2008
MACALLAN SCOTCH NEAT AT RED STAR BAR & GRILL
Alexander Blass, 33, has just celebrated the one-year anniversary of his Fells Point-based Internet business, RealityCharity.com. He describes the company as the world’s first direct-giving Web site in the philanthropy community. Before starting up that company, the Pikesville native worked as an equity analyst for Legg Mason, got a Master of Business Administration at Oxford, then worked as a venture capitalist and management IT consultant. Blass is single and lives in Mount Washington.
When people hear about you and your business, what’s the question you hear most?
“Why didn’t I think of that?” And I say, ‘Well, somebody had to.’ … There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing your idea go from sketches on a piece of paper to living, breathing things. Especially when it positively impacts other people.
Was that something you felt was missing in what you were doing before?
I didn’t want to wait until I was 65, and had saved up some cash, to decide it was time to make a difference.
Are you ever silly?
All the time. I’m a very silly person. I’m the king of useless knowledge. For example. Area codes. You can tell me an area code and I can tell you the city. For example, I can tell you 614 is Columbus, Ohio. Not to be confused with 416, which is Toronto. Or 214 is Dallas, and 412 is Pittsburgh.
So, in your vast expanse of useless knowledge, what’s the most useless tidbit you know?
If you find yourself in ancient Babylonia, and an ox falls into a pit, I’m your man. I know the legal ruling about who to pay damages because it’s written in Aramaic in the ancient book of the Talmud, which is a 40-volume work of ancient Jewish law that I was made to study for about three hours a day for 10 years.
Do you ever lose when you play “Trivial Pursuit?”
Are you crazy?
How much do you work?
(He laughs) Honestly, I live and breathe this stuff. I wish I could say I’m out there living it up every night. But, I’ve been quite busy these days by necessity. When you run an Internet company, it’s 24 hours a day.
How do you have fun?
Fortunately, even with my current passion, it takes me around the world. I was in Africa recently. It was my second trip. I was there for nine days this time. I was a speaker at a Pan African conference on World AIDS Day, where 40 African countries were represented in the audience. Maybe fun to me is different. I’m a very curious person. I love to learn about other cultures. … It inspires me.
Do you ever just chill?
I do chill. … I love the outdoors. I love to be out on the water. I love to listen to live music. … Fells Point is actually my favorite. I love it here, the Red Star. Sometimes they have bands. I love the Waterfront Hotel. Sometimes I just get away. One time, I got on a plane to Chicago. There was a one-hour time difference. I went to see a band at 7:30 [p.m.]. Amos Lee. He’s like the male version of Norah Jones; folk/soul/blues. And then I flew back on the 6 a.m. [flight].
What that the most decadent thing you’ve ever done?
My thing is adventure. I’ve backpacked everywhere. I’ve been to about 40 countries. I spent about two months backpacking through Asia. … I’ve been to over 20 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East. I love realizing how big the world is.
You go by yourself?
I usually go with friends. But, sometimes I go alone. … I’m fine either way. … I like to run. I ran a race in Portugal. Beautiful. Spectacular, over the Vasco de Gama Bridge in Lisbon.
How often do you travel?
I used to do a lot of it. At the present time, not so much.
What about dating?
I date. I’m a single guy. It’s a little challenging right now since women may think I’m already in a relationship. With RealityCharity. But, when I find the right person, I will make time for her.
Are you actively looking?
Passively. I’m open for applications.
If you rewrote the lyrics to “My Favorite Things,” what would you include?
Funny you say that. I’ve been to Salzburg [Austria] where The Sound of Music was filmed. I was dating a British woman who I went to Oxford with. She was a huge fan of The Sound of Music. So, as a surprise on her birthday, I took her to Salzburg, and on The Sound of Music tour. … This may sound hard to believe, but I am just as happy, if not happier, in a remote village without electricity in Laos as I am at an event at the Waldorf. I love to feel alive. I don’t know how else to put it. I love that sense of wonderment that sometimes we only have as a child, where you just go “wow.” I love that feeling. “I will never, ever forget this moment.” Those collections of experiences definitely – without a doubt – have motivated me to do what I do today.
What are your pet peeves?
For me, it would be people who don’t appreciate the little things in life and [see] how blessed we are in this city, and in this country. I actually [believe] you got to get out there. It’s amazing how much it’s impacted me. Seeing how fortunate we are here. A bad day for many of us would be a good day for three-quarters of the world. It’s helped me mature a lot as a person.
Sounds like you treat everything as a learning experience.
For sure. People here take themselves way too seriously in our culture. … You gotta be able to laugh at yourself. You’ve got to be able to enjoy the adventure. I never would’ve imagined five years ago that I’d be doing what I’m doing today. And I’m not sure what I’ll be doing five years from now.
What’s your worst habit or personality trait?
Only one? Enough said. Ask my ex-girlfriend.
Are there words you live by?
It’s a quote from Albert Schweitzer: “I don’t know what your destiny shall bring: but one thing that I do know is that the only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought and found a way to serve.” I like that quote. And I completely agree with him.
Copyright © 2008, The Baltimore Sun
