Kevin Fitzpatrick is back up on the roof at Patriot Subaru in Saco to raise money for STRIVE, a nonprofit that assists teens and young adults with intellectual disabilities.
Kevin says STRIVE is there when the community asks for help with a special need.
“Here’s a gap in enabling this population to gain independent living skills,” said Fitzpatrick. “What can you do? Time and time again, STRIVE creates yet another program to meet those needs and fill those gaps.”
Kevin also says the nonprofit has limited resources and ways to support itself.
“When it comes to a fundraiser like this, if we’re not going to raise the money this way, we have to find another way because this is literally how we keep the lights on and provide the services that we do,” Fitzpatrick said.
For 10 years, Fitzpatrick has camped out on the roof of Patriot Subaru.
This year, he’s set a goal of $90,000, and says he won’t come down from the roof until he’s hit that mark.
STRIVE now offers over 15 different programs dedicated to supporting the community, all with a common goal of providing opportunities for participants to become as independent as possible.
The nonprofit says those opportunities include social, educational, employment training, post-secondary options, and ongoing support programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and/or mental health issues.
Fitzpatrick himself is the program director for STRIVE U, which aims to teach 18-26-year-old residents the necessary skills to live independently in the community. STRIVE U includes Community Living in an apartment with a roommate, Post-Secondary Education and paid work experiences.
