We've had a great 2024 here at STRIVE! Relive some of our favorite memories with us below!
January - Partners for World Health recognized and celebrated our exceptional volunteers for their outstanding contributions!
ID: 3 STRIVE participations and staff standing in a warehouse under a sign that says "Partners for World Health"
March - We hosted our first senior social for participants ages 55 and up!
ID: participant holding a colorful sign with STRIVE Senior Social Information
April- We put on our safety glasses and had a great view of the partial eclipse here in South Portland!
ID: participants and staff standing outside, wearing eclipse glasses, and looking up at the sky
May - We had our first STRIVE Rocks in person since 2019 and raised over $102,000 for our STRIVE programs!
June - We celebrated the STRIVE U class of 2024 - 20 years after the first class moved in!
ID: STRIVE Rocks attendees holding up numbers with our fundraising total in front of the STRIVE Rocks logo
ID: eight graduating STRIVE U students holding roses and wearing blue caps and gowns.
June- Our STRIVE for 5 annual neighborhood 5K led to some fast and fun times for all!
July- We celebrated 25 years of STRIVE with a few events throughout the year. The Casablanca boat cruise was definitely a highlight!
ID: 5K runners running through the inflatable STRIVE starting arch
ID: STRIVE members and band members posing on the front of a boat out in the ocean.
September - Kevin came down off the roof after 8 days, raising over $88,000 - his largest total yet!
September- We welcomed over 100 STRIVE members into our teen center on a Friday night for Super STRIVE Night!
ID: STRIVE staff, including Kevin, standing in front of a tent with a large whiteboard
ID: STRIVE members posing in the big room at Super STRIVE Night
November - STRIVE's annual auction was a huge success, raising over $105,000 for STRIVE programs!
November - We love showing our gratitude to the STRIVE community with our annual Thanksgiving meal with ACTIVE, WAVES, and Bayside!
ID: view from the back of the auction looking at the stage
ID: three participants sitting at a table with Thanksgiving plates in front of them
PROGRAMS
STRIVE U
This month, STRIVE U students, staff, and alumni came together to celebrate the spirit of gratitude with a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. It was a joyous occasion filled with delicious food, heartfelt conversations, and shared laughter. We are grateful to everyone who attended, making it a memorable experience for all! Its always a joy to see former students return to our alumni events and share their experiences and advice with the current students! This year we had over 40 people in attendance- making it our best attended dinner to-date!
Students are nearing the end of the semester at Southern Maine Community College. They have been busy this month taking advantage of all the extracurricular activities being offered. Some of the highlight activities include seeing with the Oscar Myer Weinermobile, visiting with a therapy dog after classes, and playing basketball around campus!
We are looking forward to celebrating the holidays on and around campus this month!
ID: STRIVE U students and staff standing outside. Some of them have basketballs in their arms.
ID: STRIVE U students sitting at a table in the STRIVE Center. There is a fall holiday table cloth. One student is looking at the camera upside down.
ID: 3 STRIVE U students sitting down. There is a dog in front of them. The dog is licking one of the students.
ID: STRIVE U students and staff playing foosball.
Applications for the STRIVE U class of 2027 are now available! Please reach out to admissions@pslstrive.org with any questions or if you want to schedule a tour!
ID: blue background with the STRIVE U logo in the bottom right
STRIVE U is a comprehensive two-year residential, post-secondary educational opportunity for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To learn more about the program, schedule a tour, or get an application, please contact admissions@pslstrive.org or call (207) 774.6278.
TOPS students are still enjoying volunteering outdoors and embracing the chilly weather. We had a Friendsgiving celebration on Tuesday, 11/26, where students celebrated with games, gratefulness activities and food they prepared together. Students have enjoyed swimming, volunteering at place like MSSPA, the Rivermeadow Trail cleaning and Preble Street (with a new afternoon session added!), visiting the Osher Map Library, learning about food safety and storage, practicing taking the METRO, learning about what to keep in your wallet at all times and visiting the Portland Museum of Art-- to name a few things. Students are also advocating for things they want to learn more about and will have upcoming lessons on building a budget, completing the second round of job applications and visiting Mr. Bagel. We will also make some time to celebrate the holiday season and are planning some festive activities!
ID: 2 TOPS Students sitting by a pond. They are backto to the camera.
ID: TOPS students looking at books at the Osher Map Library.
ID: A group of TOPS students standing around a table making putty.
ID: 2 TOPS students outside rolling a large blue bin on wheels.
TOPS (Transition Outcomes Program for Students) provides transition programming for high school students from area school districts who are typically 18 years and older. For more information, please contact Ryanne Desjardins at rdesjardins@pslstrive.org or by phone at 207-879-0847.
ID: Image of a tag that says "Sale" with infromation abou ta Syber Monday sale. There is also the STRIVE WorldWIDE logo.
ID: Colorful schedule of SWW courses through the end of the year and 2025.
STRIVE WorldWIDE is STRIVE's online program that teaching independent living skills. For more information about STRIVE WorldWIDE, contact Courtney Veinotte at cveinotte@pslstrive.org or call 207-712-0048.
This month at Bayside we are finally feeling rather settled. There are so many differences from what we were accustomed to in The Back Bay Towers. The newest difference is taking care of the leaves, and a lot of them! We have practiced raking and leaf blowing so that we are ready to shovel when the snow inevitably arrives.
What an anomaly of a November we have had! We are still holding on to that lovely warm weather. Many adventures watching our world transform while exploring Bradbury Mountain and Wolfs Neck Park. Noticing signs that mother nature is as confused by the warm weather as we are, seeing that the dandelions are still creating new blooms.
We are gearing up for Thanksgiving with all our buddies over at ACTIVE. We plan to make a chocolate pie and a gluten/dairy free pumpkin pie to share with everyone at our Thanksgiving feast!
ID: Bayside participant outside by a pile of leaves
ID: Bayside participant making homemade pizza. In the picture he is spreading sauce on the dough.
ID: Bayside participant reading a book in a comfortable chair in a library
ID: 3 Bayside participants standing on a large rock. There is the ocean and sky in the background.
For more information on Bayside, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
ACTIVE: This month we celebrated Thanksgiving with a big feast at Foden Rd.! We enjoyed turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, veggies, and more! It was so fun to spend time with our peers and to think about all that we are grateful for this year. During our celebration, we enjoyed some music and did some Thanksgiving Day crafts!
WAVES: This month South Portland Park Ranger, Sydney, visited WAVES and taught us all about sharks with a "Maine Shark Week" presentation! We learned all about ancient sharks that were around 450 million years ago! We really enjoyed learning about sharks that live in Maine waters and how we can protect them and their environment. We even got to do some shark coloring and craft activities!
ID: three participants sitting at a table with a Thanksgiving tablecloth
ID: participant sitting a table eating pie and smiling
For more information on ACTIVE or WAVES, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
This month at STRIVE Studios, we’ve been having fun experimenting with paper crafts, from 2D coloring and collage projects to 3D paper figurines. We have also been busy preparing work to display at our Holiday Show at STRIVE Studios on 12/12! Part of our show will include the clay work our ceramic groups have been crafting, including magnets, candles, figurines, and more. We are excited to share our hard work from the year with our community!
ID: Participant smiling and holding a piece of art they made.
ID: participant sitting at a table and working with clay.
ID: Clay sculpture
For more information on STRIVE Studios, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
We have a new series starting on December 4th! This series will run for three weeks and will focus on gratitude. Students will learn how to express gratitude, implement daily gratitude practices into their lives, and understand the benefits of practicing gratitude! Students must register prior to the first class.
ID: light pink background with abstract red shape and stars in the bottom left and abstract orange shape with stars in the top left. There is a person with their hands over their heart and an open envelope in the center.
The Wednesday Night Educational Series is held every Wednesday in person for participants 15-24 years old. Series are between 4 and 8 weeks and topics vary from month to month! The price per series is $30-$40, depending on the series' length. For more information or for your link to join class, contact Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org.
Camp STRIVE is a day-camp experience for campers between the ages of 11-24. Camp STRIVE is held every school vacation (Winter, February, and April) as well as for the full summer. For more information about Camp STRIVE, contact Alex Woodhouse at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org.
Tweens
We have an exciting new month of Tweens activities planned! Tweens is a FREE program for ages 11-14 and meets every Friday from 3:30-5:30. We hope you'll join us this month to decorate some cookies, make some holiday crafts, play some games, and learn some American Sign Language!
ID: white background with snowflakes and red and blue lights across the top. Along the bottom are houses and trees covered in snow.
Tweens is a safe and fun environment to build new friendships and learn new skills for folks 11-14 years old. We run every Friday from 3:30-5:30pm. We have a scheduled activity each week, with free time built in to maximize socialization. For more information about STRIVE Tweens, contact Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org.
We had the best time celebrating Friendsgiving at STRIVE Night and we're so grateful for all our STRIVE members! One of the highlights was definitely our annual pie eating contest!
ID: participant sitting and smiling with whipped cream on his nose
ID: participant standing like a turkey next to a big inflateable turkey
ID: participant sitting a table and smiling with his arms above his head. There is whipped cream on his nose.
This December, we're hosting two exciting theme nights! Join us on December 6th as we celebrate 25 years of STRIVE and on December 20th for a winter holiday party! Fun times all around!
ID: dark background with snowflakes and stars. There are lights across the top and snow across the bottom.
Friday Night at STRIVE, fondly referred to as "STRIVE Night," is a relaxed but fun evening of socialization for 15-24 year olds. New members are always welcome, and your first night is free! STRIVE Night is Friday from 6-9pm, with at least one special "theme" night happening each month. For more information, contact Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org.
December's STRIVE 25 is an ugly sweater holiday party! Join us on December 5th and wear your favorite ugly or festive holiday wear! As a reminder, STRIVE 25 is always the first Thursday of the month from 6-8pm and dinner included!
Also, save the date for our January STRIVE 25 - January 2nd!
ID: blue and white background with snowflakes. Across the top and bottom are leaves and red berries. There are two images of ugly sweaters in the center.
STRIVE 25 is a social event for folks 25 and older. It currently runs in-person on the first Thursday of every month from 6-8pm For more information on STRIVE 25, contact Whitney at wwildes@pslstrive.org or Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org!
Our next senior social is Tuesday, December 3rd! We hope to see you there!
ID: light blue flyer with information about the December Senior Social. There are 2 trees and a snowman at the bottom of the flyer.
STRIVE's Senior Social is a social event for individuals 55 and up. It takes place in-person on the first Tuesday of every month from 3-4:30pm. For more information on STRIVE Senior Social, contact Abby at abohlen@pslstrive.org!
A huge thank you to everyone who joined in to support STRIVE's annual auction this year! Whether you donated, attended our in-person event, placed a bid online, or volunteered your time, you played a key role in making this one of our most successful auctions yet!
With your help, we were able to raise over $105,000 for STRIVE programs! Thank you!!
Every dollar we raised goes straight into our programs, supporting over 1,400 tweens, teens, and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Your support really makes a world of difference! Thank you!
ID: Guests at STRIVE's Annual Auction. The photo is taken from the back of the room. You can see guests sitting and standing around a wooden dance floor.
ID: 2 guests looking at a phone (mobile bidding). There are framed flyers in front of them with information about auction items.
ID: STRIVE member sitting at a table and painting on a small canvas that is on an easel. There is a woman behind her who is smiling.
ID: STRIVE participant giving a speech. He is speaking into a microphone. There are speakers on both sides of him.
ID: Guests at the annual auction. Some are holding up bid numbers.
A big thank you again to this year's auction sponsors- Without them, our event would not be possible!
ID: Logos of this year's auction sponsors.
Giving Tuesday
Tuesday, December 3rd
Mark your calendars for December 3rd, as Giving Tuesday, the worldwide celebration of generosity, approaches! Join us in supporting STRIVE with countless opportunities to make a difference. Discover some easy and impactful ways to contribute below!
ID: Image of planet Earth with the Giving Tuesday heart logo in the center.
Donate to STRIVE's Annual Campaign!
Make your gift electronically by visiting www.pslstrive.org/donate or by mailing your donation to STRIVE at 28 Foden Road, South Portland, ME 04106. Don't forget- your gift is tax deductible! Our Tax ID is 01-0473116.
Volunteer in one of our many programs or on one of our committees!
We're always looking for volunteers to help in our social programs and more! We also have opportunities to serve on our event committees, on our agency Steering Committee or for business members looking to join our STRIVE Business to Business Networking Group! Interested in learning more? Reach out to STRIVE Program Director, Whitney, at wwildes@pslstrive.org!
Check out our Amazon Wishlist!
Our programs have put together a list of wants and needs! Take a look at our list HERE!
Purchase STRIVE Gear!
Take a look at our STRIVE shop HERE! You can even customize your items with different STRIVE logos and more!
Give the gift of STRIVE!
Purchase STRIVE Nights or STRIVE 25 socials in advance, buy a STRIVE WorldWIDE course or certificate bundle for your favorite STRIVE student, or secure a spot at Camp STRIVE this summer! Contact STRIVE Program Manager, Alex Woodhouse, at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org to purchase your gift.
Participate in 3 Points for STRIVE during the 2024-2025 Maine Celtics Season!
For every 3-pointer scored at a Maine Celtics home game, our friends at Hammond Lumber donate to STRIVE. Contact Whitney at wwildes@pslstrive.org to make your own pledge for this season!
Use STRIVE Clynk Bags!
Collect your bottles using the STRIVE Clynk tag!
Looking for a new car? Head to Patriot Subaru!
STRIVE has been selected to be one of the beneficiaries of Patriot Subaru's Share the Love campaign! From now until January 2nd, STRIVE will receive a donation for every new Subaru sold or leased, and for every routine service!
Listen to the STRIVECast!
Did you know that STRIVE has a weekly podcsat called The STRIVECast? The STRIVECast is hosted, edited and produced all by adults with intellectual disabilities. Be sure to leave us a review or share your guest ideas! You can listen to the STRIVECast HERE or wherever you hear your other weekly shows!
Share the Love
Now through January 2nd
This year, STRIVE has been selected as one of the beneficiaries of Patriot Subaru's Share the Love event! From now until January 2nd, for each new sold or leased vehicle, Subaru will donate $250 to a local charity (STRIVE is one of them!) and Patriot Subaru will donate a minimum of $75. Find out more HERE! Thank you to Patriot Subaru for all you to for STRIVE and the rest of our communities!
ID: A photo form this year's Kevin on the Roof event. It has STRIVE staff, Patriot staff and customers standing in front of the Patriot Subary building. They are waving and smiling. The bottom of the image has the Share the Love logo which includes a hand with a heart and snowflakes.
3 Points for STRIVE
Cheer on your favorite basketball team while supporting STRIVE at the same time! The Maine Celtics and Hammond Lumber Company are teaming up again for 3-Points for STRIVE! For every 3-Pointer made at home, Hammond Lumber will donate $50 to STRIVE. Make your own pledge today! Thank you to Hammond Lumber and the Maine Celtics for supporting STRIVE again this winter!
ID: Photo of a basketball hoop and basketball. There's also the logos for STRIVE, Maine Celtics, and Hammond Lumber Company.
STRIVE Shout Outs
Thank you to our November Donors!
Barry Dunlap- In Honor of Caleb Dunlap
Allan McHale
Robert Sellin
Deborah Ward
Wendy Russell
Joyce Johnson
Judith Berghuis
Joseph Madore
Pam Chamberlain
E. Gerry and Betty Johnson
Meredith Kerr
Hope Groves
Paul Daniels
Helen Malone
Carol Purcell
Richard Borts
Jennie Cutten
Shari Chaney
Meredith Kerr
Mary Ann Savard- In Memory of Robert and Barbara West
Mark Stevens
Roberta O’Brion
Esther Pappas
HUB Furniture Co.
The Rhodes Family
Hartley and Benson Webster
Gillian and Brian Ballute
Alex Agnew and Lisa Markushewski
ID: STRIVE participant smiling and holding a colorful sign that says "thank you". Games in the STRIVE Teen Center are behind him.
Thank you for your generous support of STRIVE!
With your support, we are able to continue our work each and every day.
Staff Spotlight
ID: photo of Janice, sitting inside and smiling
Meet Janice! Janice works in our Community Support programs! Janice says "I love the sense of community at STRIVE. Our Community Supports program participants are supported by compassionate, committed staff that truly care about their success. We're all one big family." Thanks, Janice, we're grateful to have you
Member Spotlight
Meet Michael! Michael attends STRIVE Night and Camp STRIVE! His favorite part about STRIVE is the "pizza party every Friday night!" Thanks, Michael!
ID: photo of Michael - he is standing in front of blue lockers wearing a black jacket and bowtie.
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy birthday to our STRIVE Members with a birthday in December!
ID: Colorful happy birthday candles on a chocolate cake
Ashley Bowers
Shania Smith
Brandon Pierce
Kaleb Divney
Henry Meehan
John Mancini
River Cummings
Katherine-Anne Martin
Cameron Day
Matt Kohan
Rob Mendillo
Brandon Woods
Michael Gregoire
Diana LaMontagne
Owen Rose
General Announcements
Join Our Team!
We're Hiring!
ID: Hand with marker writing We Are HiringI
Are you, or someone you know in the market for a new job?
We're hiring for a number of positions!
We have full time, part time, and per diem opportunities available- including weekdays, evenings, and weekends!
We are also offering a $1,500 sign on bonus (after 60 days of successful employment and completed training) plus an additional $250 bonus for those that are already DSP, MHRT, or CRMA certified!
ID: Image of business partners discussing at a meeting table
Did you know we host a free monthly networking group for our local community? The STRIVE Business to Business Networking Group is just one way we work to be a mutually beneficial partner, with the hope of expanding our partnerships with local businesses.
We are looking to grow! The group meets virtually on the last Wednesday the month at 12pm . Contact Pete or Whitney to find out more about joining us this month!
Shop STRIVE!
We have an online store to purchase all your STRIVE swag needs! Take a look at all the shop has to offer! There are so many items to choose from AND you can customize any item by choosing the color and STRIVE logo that you want. Happy shopping!
ID: white background with two rows of swag. Top row from left to right is a gray backpack with the STRIVE WorldWIDE logo, a black mug with the STRIVECast logo, a white t-shirt with the STRIVE logo, and a blue baseball hat with a STRIVE U logo. Bottom row from left to right is a blue tote bag with a PSL Services/STRIVE logo, a gray sweatshirt with a STRIVE U logo, and a white travel mug with a STRIVE logo.
Listen to the STRIVECast
ID: STRIVECast flyer with images of our two hosts and sound and video engineer.
The STRIVECast is a podcast brought to you by the team at PSL Services/STRIVE in South Portland, Maine — bringing you engaging, hilarious, and thoughtful conversation through one interview week by week. Co-Hosted by two young men with Down Syndrome, the STRIVECast aims to change the voices we typically hear on the radio and through podcasts, as well as to provide meaningful dialogues with all sorts of public figures in our world. We are very proud to be both hosted, produced AND edited by people with disabilities! Like what you hear? Shoot us an email at strivecast@pslstrive.org!
Have questions or comments about any of our programs and events?
Email info@pslstrive.org to update your address or speak to a STRIVE staff member!
New members: You will be asked to complete an updated information form upon your arrival to Tweens, STRIVE Night or STRIVE 25. Want to get a head start? Visit https://www.pslstrive.org/membershipform to submit your membership form today!
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