STRIVE - Serving teens and young adults with intellectual and emotional disabilities

October 5, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jessica Low, BookWorks! Coordinator
STRIVE
Phone: (207) 774-6278
Fax: (207) 774-7695
Email: jlow@pslservices.org

STRIVE NAMED RECIPIENT OF PET PROJECT ART AUCTION

Portland-based illustrator Rohan Henry selects STRIVE to
benefit from sale of children’s book illustration

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, October 5, 2006 -- STRIVE, a program PSL Services designed to address the many issues faced by young adults (ages 15-24) with disabilities, has been named a recipient of PET PROJECT: Picture Book Art from the Heart, a unique charitable art exhibit and online auction. Portland-based illustrator Rohan Henry will donate several pieces of original art to be sold on behalf of STRIVE and its post-secondary education and training program STRIVE U.

“The reason I chose STRIVE as the beneficiary of my art auction is simple: attending college is challenging for all students,” said Henry. “The students at STRIVE focus more on their abilities than on their disabilities and because of that, they live every day, every hour and every minute of their lives with the highest levels of dignity and courage. If that's not inspiring, I don't know what is.”

Henry, a teaching assistant for STRIVE U, combined his passion in social work with dedication to children’s art by participating in Pet Project. Three original drawings from Henry’s picture book, “The Perfect Gift,” will be auctioned off in the fundraiser.

Organized by picture book author and illustrator Cathryn Falwell, Pet Project features twenty-seven children’s book illustrators from Maine and New England. Each participating illustrator has chosen their ‘pet project’ or favorite charity for their donated children’s book illustration to benefit.

“Viewing or owning original book art can further a child's understanding that book illustrators are artists that work solely for their benefit, for kids,” said Kirsten Cappy of Curious City, who is curator of the Pet Project. “Illustration serves children’s imaginations and education.”

The illustrations will be on display at Zero Station in Portland, Maine, from October 5th - October 14th, 2006. The online auction will be held via eBay’s non-profit fundraising partner, Mission Fish from October 5th - October 15th, 2006.

About PET PROJECT

PET PROJECT: Picture Book Art from the Heart, was formed in response to children’s book artists’ desire to support nonprofits of their choice through art donation. Pet Project opens on Thursday, October 5, 2006 from 6:00-8:00 at Zero Station at 222 Anderson Street in Portland, Maine and during gallery hours from October 5 - 14. Many of the illustrators will be on hand for the opening and will be signing copies of their books. The Pet Project online auction opens on eBay on October 5th and will close on October 15th. eBay and their non-profit fundraising partner, Mission Fish, will ensure that each purchase goes to benefit the designated charity.

Click here for Ebay Auction

Contributing both framed and unframed pieces to the Pet Project will be illustrators Anita Riggio, Anna Alter, Anne Sibley O¹Brien, Beth Krommes, Cathryn Falwell, Charlotte Agell, Chris Van Dusen, Grace Lin, Jane Cowen-Fletcher, Jeanie Brett, John Hassett, Kelly Murphy, Kevin Hawkes, Laura Rankin, Leane Morin, Lisa Jahn-Clough, Lizzy Rockwell, Marc Tauss, Matt Tavares, Melissa Sweet, Peter Brown, Rebecca Bond,
Rohan Henry, Sandra Dutton, Scott Nash, Stephen Costanza, Wade Zahares and others.

For more information contact Curious City at 207-699-2755 or by visiting www.mypetproject.org.

About STRIVE
STRIVE, a program PSL Services, is designed to address the many issues faced by young adults (ages 15-24) with disabilities. The agency focuses on improving fundamental academic skills, developing leadership potential, improving economic opportunities through continuing education, enhancing or upgrading work skills, integrating literary and social skills into occupational/vocational opportunities, fostering career opportunities through education and training, and promoting peer support for parents and siblings of this young population. With over 375 members, STRIVE is the only social and recreational program for young adults with developmental disabilities in Southern Maine. Founded in 1999, STRIVE is headquartered in South Portland, Maine.
For more information on STRIVE, or for a listing of events and community activities, please call 207-774-6278 or visit www.pslstrive.org.

STRIVE Press Releases

October 5, 2006