ID: photo of Kevin giving two thumbs up on the roof.
Kevin on the Roof 2025 is kicking off on Wednesday, September 3rd! Kevin's goal this year is to raise $85,000 for STRIVE and he needs your help! There are a few ways you can help Kevin reach his goal:
Visit Kevin and the STRIVE Team after September 3rd at Patriot Subaru (769 Portland Rd, Saco) to have Kevin lower his donation bucket!
With any donation of $10 or more, you'll be entered for a chance to win one of our great raffle prizes! This year's prizes include:
$1000 Irving Gift Card
Apple Watch
Apple Airpods Max
2 Patriots Tickets (12/14 at 1pm vs Buffalo Bills)
With a donation of $100 or more, you'll receive a prize pack with goodies from some of our sponsors! Prize packs include:
1 Aroma Joe's Beverage Coupon
1 6in. Subway Sandwich Coupon
1 General Admission Portland Sea Dogs Ticket
1 Congdon's Doughnut coin!
ID: Flyer with photo of Kevin waving from the top of Patriot Subaru. There is a sunset behind him. KOTR 2025 logos are along the bottom of the flyer.
Planning a visit to the roof this year? Join in on the fun by participating in our Kevin on the Roof theme days! You never know- you could win a prize for coming to Patriot Subaru in the best outfit or with the best prop!
ID: boxes of theme days for Kevin on the Roof. The Patriot Subaru logo is on the top left and the STRIVE logo is on the top right.
PROGRAMS
STRIVE U
STRIVE U residents have been enjoying a summer of exploring the greater Portland area, with first years getting used to their schedules and second years enjoying some well deserved time off from SMCC. In learning group, residents said goodbye to their old teacher, Ben, with cake and a thoughtful sendoff while welcoming in our new instructor, Demetri, just a few weeks ago. In community support, students have visited the Narrow Gauge Railroad, checked out the gym on SMCC's campus, and visiting car dealerships to look at what's on the lot. All unemployed residents have been navigating off campus to learning group at Foden Road, to practice getting up out and out for employment opportunities this fall. SMCC classes begin in a week, ensuring schedules will be jam packed to kick off fall.
ID: residents and staff at a long wooden table eating cake
ID: resident sitting in the driver's seat of a red truck
ID: STRIVE U resident standing in front of the Narrow Gauge Railroad train
ID: Two residents sitting inside in front of a window with a view overlooking the water
ID: resident sitting in a red truck with the door open
ID: STRIVE U resident with his back to the camera waving to the train
STRIVE U is a comprehensive two-year residential, post-secondary educational opportunity for residents 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.
August marked the end of another fun and successful ESY program at TOPS. The students had so many fun opportunities to try many new and engaging activities during our camping themed week. Since our week was based on learning how to prepare for a camping trip, we did some really fun team-building activities like making tie-dye t-shirts for ourselves and any absent student. Other activities that encouraged a lot of cooperation and communication were setting up a tent and making veggie kebabs to grill at TOPS.
During this week, we also made a few trips to some outdoor trail walks, observing nature and recording what we saw, heard, felt, and smelled. Students loved checking out the Capisic Pond trail and River Meadow trails and are excited to return for another visit soon. Also, students enjoyed learning about all the necessities to pack if you are preparing for a backpacking or camping trip, as Jes brought in some equipment, like a sleeping pad, sleeping bag, water purifier, and camp stove for students to examine and ask questions about.
Students continue to benefit from cooking groups, learning more about kitchen safety and knife skills. Many students tried the veggie kebabs and enjoyed them, however, it seemed like the s'mores were a bigger hit for others! Our last day of ESY was spent outside at TOPS, enjoying a BBQ, playing games, talking and having fun together. We have been busy preparing for the academic year and look forward to sharing more about the beginning of the year activities in the next newsletter.
ID: student outside with a clipboard and waterbottle
ID: student cutting zucchini on cutting board
ID: student and staff rolling up a green yoga mat
ID: student sitting outside, wearing sunglasses, on a walker
ID: student wearing gloves and tie dying a shirt while holding up one finger
ID: student holding up blue and white tie dyed shirt
ID: students setting up a camping tent outside
ID: Two students sitting inside a tent. One is pointing at the camera
ID: students and staff making smores on a table outside
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.
Check out STRIVE WorldWIDE's new course time blocks below! Don't forget that our scholarships for Maine students are still available - click HERE for more information and to complete the scholarship form!
ID: flyer with STRIVE WorldWIDE logo along the top. There is new course time information in the center
Looking ahead to fall? STRIVE WorldWIDE's got you covered! Check out the upcoming fall course schedule below.
ID: Fall STRIVE WorldWIDE course schedule.
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.
Bayside and others from PSL/STRIVE enjoyed a wonderful trip on the Bay View Lady, where they took a trip around Casco Bay. They then went over to Port Harbor Marina had some lunch, after lunch they went down at the pier and learned to bait and catch crabs. It was a fun day.
For the month of August, everyone has been working on their Life Skill goals. Each of them has been creating some nice summer dishes for their cooking goal. They have been learning how to order off a restaurant menu and how to stay within a budget. This month they have navigated to Freeport and visited the store British Goods. Where they were able to speak to the manager of the store, it was nice of him to take the time to give us a tour and take question on how he chooses what items to sell.
ID: participant sitting outside on a dock
ID: overhead pictures of participants on a dock
ID: participants and staff on a boat, coming into dock
For more information on Bayside, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
ACTIVE: We’re excited to share a new partnership between ACTIVE and the South Portland Fire Department! Our volunteers have rolled up their sleeves to support the department by helping keep the station in top shape—from sweeping the firehouse floors to scrubbing down fire engines until they shine. It’s been a rewarding and hands-on way to give back to our local heroes, and we’re proud to be lending a hand where it counts!
WAVES: WAVES groups have been soaking up the summer sunshine and staying active in the best way—by getting outdoors! Spending time outside not only boosts physical health, but also improves mood, reduces stress, and helps build a stronger sense of community. We’ve been taking walks around the area and exploring different spots, with Bug Light as one of the favorite go-to destinations. It’s been a fun and energizing way to connect, exercise, and enjoy the season together!
ID: two participants washing the outside of a fire truck
ID: participant sitting in a fire truck talking on a phone
ID: Two participants sweeping floors inside
ID: participants walking on a paved path outside with grass on either side
ID: Two participants standing outside, looking at the camera
For more information on ACTIVE or WAVES, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
Happy August! This month at STRIVE Studios, we checked out the Yarmouth Plein Air Festival. Plein Air, which translates to “open air” from French, is the process of painting or drawing what you see while outdoors. We saw and met local artists in action, and then we tried our own hand working en plein air at Royal River Park!
August also brought about the start of our latest Tuesday Studio Series: Intro to Digital Art. In this series, students have been working on iPads to learn the basics of digital art and graphic design. Upcoming projects will include poster designs and digital collages— it will be exciting to see what everyone creates
ID: Two participants sitting on a bench outside and drawing
ID: participant sitting on a bench facing a pond. His back is to the camera, and he is wearing headphones
For more information on STRIVE Studios, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
STRIVE’s Tuesday Studio Series offers a variety of artistic classes designed to explore different mediums and foster creativity. These classes are for artists ages 15-24 with intellectual and developmental disabilities and are held every Tuesday evening from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
Our current series is Intro to Digital Art. Stay up to date with future course offerings on our website!
ID: student in Intro to Digital Art working on an iPad
The Tuesday Studio Series is held Tuesdays in person at our STRIVE Studio location for participants 15-24 years old. Series length, cost and topics vary month to month. For more information or to join class, contact Liam at lrademacher@pslstrive.org.
Our September Wednesday Night Educational Series will focus on cooking skills and food safety. This series will cover topics like food safety, cooking tips, easy recipes, and more! This four-week series will be taught by STRIVE staff. Register using the form on our website HERE!
ID: pink flyer with two people sitting along the bottom with a heart between them.
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-$50, depending on the series' length. For more information or to join class, contact Liv at opardi@pslstrive.org.
August was packed with adventure, creativity, and plenty of sunshine at Camp STRIVE! From beach ball games and DIY boat races to pickleball, outdoor bowling, and a crowd-favorite camp talent show, we’ve been on the move all month long. Campers got creative with s’mores and suncatchers, took on astronaut training, made their own movies, and even found time to stretch out with yoga. We also explored some of Maine’s best spots—like Willard Beach, Wolfe’s Neck State Park, Gilsland Farm, Bradbury Mountain, Mackworth Island, and the Maine Wildlife Park. Other highlights included cheering on the Sea Dogs at a home game, learning at the planetarium, and visiting Eartha! August was a month of friendship, fun, and unforgettable memories—thanks to all who made it so special!
ID: STRIVE campers and staff standing outside in front a sign at Gilsland Farm
ID: camper standing outside, smiling and holding a stick
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 at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org.
Tweens
We love summer at STRIVE, and Tweens has plenty of stories ready for September! Check out the schedule below. We hope to see you there!
ID: pale yellow background with watercolor dragon, castle, clouds, and a princess around the edges. Tweens program information is in the center and bottom right corner.
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 Liv at opardi@pslstrive.org.
Another incredible month of STRIVE Nights! From games and karaoke to crafts and themed activities, we kept the good times rolling all month long. A big highlight was our Beach Bash—complete with tropical vibes, dancing, and lots of laughter. Thanks to everyone who joined us to make August such a great time—we can't wait to see you in September!
ID: pale yellow background with watercolor fall-themed mushrooms, leaves, apples around the edges. STRIVE Night information in the center.
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 Liv at opardi@pslstrive.org.
ID: seven STRIVE 25 Advisory Board members sitting at a table smiling
The STRIVE 25 Advisory Board has been hard at work planning some fun upcoming theme nights to close out 2025, including a talent show, Halloween party, and ugly sweater party! We're grateful for all their hard work!
STRIVE 25 will meet Thursday, September 4th! As always, there will be a delicious meal, competitive bingo, and a great time with friends!
Save the date for our following social event on Thursday, October 2nd!
ID: pale yellow background with acorns, leaves and other fall flowers around the edges. STRIVE 25 information 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 Liv at opardi@pslstrive.org!
Join us for our next STRIVE Senior Social - Tuesday, September 2nd!
ID: green background with the PSL Services / STRIVE logo in the top right. There are three playing cards in the middle left
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!
ID: There are two plane tickets on the bottom left and a plane flying a heart route on the right. There are borders in all four corners. In the center is information about STRIVE's Annual Auction
Save the date for STRIVE's Annual Auction! This year's event will be hybrid again. We will have a live, in-person event on Thursday, November 13th at Maine Studio Works in Portland. Our in-person event will future bidding on live items, our fund-a-need, participant speeches, games and activities, and more! Online bidding on out silent auction items will be open from Thursday, November 13th-20th.
It's not too early to get involved! Are you or your business interested in sponsoring the auction or do you have something to donate? Reach out to STRIVE Program Director, Alex Woodhouse, at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org for more information!
Join the Auction Committee!
We're looking for new members to join the planning committee! Interested? Reach out to Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org or 207-774-6278!
ID: transparent background of wonders of the world, including Machu Picchu, The Taj Mahal, The Colosseum, waterfalls, the Grand Canyon, and Easter Island. There is a white square in the middle with information about joining the committee.
Dine In New England
ID: dark blue background with the Dine In New England logo in the center
We're thrilled to share information about Dine In New England! Dine In New England is a digital dining club that provides discounts to hundreds of restaurants throughout Maine. Over 50% of membership fees are donated to nonprofit organizations with 25% of membership fees donated to PSL Services/STRIVE in 2025! Check out their website for more information about what a DINE membership offers you!
STRIVE Shout Outs
Thank you to our August Donors!
Barry Dunlap - In Honor of Caleb Dunlap
Marianne Tapp - In Honor of Lisa DeFreitas
Jack and Katherine Emory
Anne Button - In Honor of Bennett Agnew
Victoria Frankl
Shari Chaney
Roberta O'Brion
Timothy Allard - In Memory of Thelma Quimby
... and everyone who has donated to our Kevin on the Roof 2025 event!
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 Emmanuel, standing outside in front of stone steps and green trees
"Hi, my name is Emmanuel Beatty and I am a Jesuit Volunteer working as the Special Projects Coordinator for PSL Services/STRIVE. For my JV year, I’m most excited about all of the events, programs, and activities I’ll get to be a part of, whether that’s through planning and fundraising, or active participation. I cannot wait to be part of it all!" Thanks, Manny, we're looking forward to the year as well and happy to have you on the team!
Member Spotlight
Meet Jack! Jack spent the summer with us at Camp STRIVE and we loved getting to know him over the past few months! His favorite parts about the summer were "Camp Mataponi and the Sea Dogs game!" Thanks, Jack, for joining us this summer!
ID: photo of Jack, he is standing outside in front of the STRIVE sign and giving two thumbs up to the camera
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy birthday to our STRIVE Members with a birthday in September!
ID: Colorful happy birthday candles on a chocolate cake
Grace Leasure
Sarah Bean
Myles Frederick
Dominic Arsenault
Eli Hodsdon
Sam Newcomb
Sam Keiter
Zach Sanborn
Mary Greslick
Jackson Bowie Haskell
Cameran Seale
Michael Johnson
Abby Pare
Dianna Oliver
Olivia Frankl
Janice Stokes
Kelic Synnefakis
Mitchell Reggio
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 ($500 paid after 30 days and new hire is billable and $1000 paid at 6 months of employment and all initial training is completed) 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!
Hope to see you at an upcoming meeting!
ID: blue flyer with information about the STRIVE Business to Business Networking Group
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://pslstrive.org/strive-membership-form to submit your membership form today!
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