Today, we would like highlight a success story that was shared at the STRIVE 35th Anniversary Gala: STRIVE graduate and Board member Roy Castro.
After a tough childhood, Roy spent 10 years in federal prison. Upon release, he found himself ill-equipped for the working world and was unable to find a job. He was on the verge of giving up and going back to the street life. Thankfully, his friend's mother told him about STRIVE.
"My first day at STRIVE, Rob Carmona [STRIVE co-founder] came into a full classroom and said, 'If you trust the process and follow our guidelines, you could be standing here one day.' I took that literally," Roy says.
When Roy graduated from STRIVE in 2003, he found a job at Edy's Ice Cream and was promoted several times while learning how to run a business. During this time he was able to buy a house and start a family.
Today, Roy has his own company, DM Ice Cream, which is New York City's largest distributor of ice cream. He took part in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and has started college funds for his children. He has shattered the cycle of intergenerational poverty for his family.
"Now, my motto is, What can I contribute? As a Board member, I want to be that example that reminds people of why STRIVE was started in the first place. STRIVE changes lives."