When Taft grad and current University of Miami business student Jimmy Ayash ’22 cofounded Kong, an eco-friendly toilet paper company in October 2023, he never expected his blue gorilla mascot to spark as much conversation as the product itself. “I’ve always loved animals, especially gorillas,” Ayash says. “They’re funny, intelligent, and live in environments surrounded by bamboo—and bamboo is exactly what our toilet paper is made from.”

      For Ayash, bamboo wasn’t just a quirky idea. It was a solution to a problem most people never think about. Every year, 66 million trees are cut down—many from Canada’s boreal forest, one of North America’s most critical carbon sinks—just to meet U.S. demand for toilet paper. “That’s not just about carbon emissions,” he says. “It’s about animals losing their homes every single day.”

      But the environmental impact wasn’t the only motivation. Ayash and his business partner, Carlos Polo, also wanted to address the health risks hidden in traditional toilet paper. “Household brands use PFAs, BPAs, chlorine, and even formaldehyde,” Ayash says. “These are chemicals you’d never want near your skin. We knew we could do better.”

      Kong launched in July 2024 after months of planning, sourcing bamboo from China and El Salvador, and packaging products in Miami. The company quickly gained traction, not just for its sustainability message, but for its community-focused ethos. Customers don’t just buy toilet paper—they call Ayash directly, sometimes for hour-long conversations about improving the brand. 

      “I believe everyone has something to bring to the table,” he says. “That feedback matters deeply to us.”

      Ayash’s entrepreneurial roots run deep. The son of a Lebanese father and Balinese mother, he grew up in Connecticut surrounded by his parents’ cultural collectibles business. Selling crystals as a teenager sparked his love for connecting with people through products. But it was a visit to his mother’s village in Bali that left the most lasting impression.

      “People there had so little, but they were always smiling and giving,” he says. “It taught me that true happiness isn’t about wealth—it’s about gratitude and community. That’s the foundation I want for Kong.”

      That foundation was recently recognized when Ayash was awarded the prestigious Alix Earle Scholarship—an award that celebrates innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial drive among University of Miami Herbert Business School students.

      The scholarship, created in 2023 by University of Miami alumna and social media figure Alix Earle, provides financial support to juniors and seniors who demonstrate strong academic potential and entrepreneurial vision that can make an impact beyond the classroom.

      “Honestly, I didn’t feel more special than anyone else,” he says. “But receiving it inspired me to give back as much as possible, just as Alix Earle has done.”

      Looking forward, Ayash is preparing Kong for retail shelves with updated branding, new packaging, and an expanded product line that stays true to its eco-friendly, chemical-free promise. While big names like Charmin and Cottonelle dominate the market, Ayash isn’t intimidated. For him, success is about more than sales metrics. It’s about building trust, community, and impact on and for people.

      “I’ve always wanted to express that no matter what—what stage you are in your life, how old you are, what background you have, what grades you have in school—you really can do anything if you put your mind to it, and you should never, ever give up. I really want to inspire people who want to also become entrepreneurs that, you know, if you really, really try your hardest, how can you lose? How can you fail?”