MEXICO — An alternative energy company has donated $10,000 to an alternative youth program.

Patriot Renewables LLC, a wind energy development company from Quincy, Mass., made the contribution Monday to Eleven Circles, a youth program. Owners Becky Skibitsky and Cindrie Cormier said they were ecstatic and honored to be chosen.

“It’s rewarding to know one company that supports alternative energy can see the power of thinking outside the box,” Skibitsky said. “They chose to support youth who are looking at alternative ways to better their community and lives of their peers.”

Eleven Circles was founded in the spring to promote healthy and positive activities for middle school and high school aged children in the River Valley.

“We plan fun social events for youth to engage with their peers and communities in a constructive and creative way,” Cormier said. “We provide opportunities to youth in performance and visual arts, life skills, and academics. We want to help youth to develop their talents and explore their minds.”

Eleven Circles is at 15 Recreation Drive and works in collaboration with the town of Mexico and the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition.   The name was chosen because the number 11 kept appearing in various ways and times to organizers; circles, because they symbolize unbrokenness and continuity.

Tom Carroll, project coordinator for Patriots Renewables’ four wind turbine projects in Oxford County, said the company was looking to donate and help to fill a void in the area.

“We wanted to focus on something for kids who weren’t into sports or ones who wanted to do something different,” Carroll said. “We had heard from several people about the good things Eleven Circles was trying to do.”

Patriot Renewables also made a $2,000 donation this week to the Ludden Library reading programs, Carroll said.

Peggy Malley, library director, said she had no idea the company would be donating the money to the program.

“This will help us have a much better preschool and summer reading program,” she said.

The library hopes to use the money for operational costs to support both programs, which she said are already very successful.

“We try hard to give incentives to keep kids reading year round,” she said.

Along with Eleven Circles and the Ludden Library, Patriot Renewables also donated money to the Webb River Snowmobile club, the Poodunk Snowmobile Club and the Carthage fuel assistance fund.

“We want to say ‘thank you’ to Tom Carroll and Patriot Renewables from the bottom of our hearts,” Cormier said. “Your generosity will go a long way in helping Eleven Circles connect with the youth of the River Valley and give all of us added incentive to pay it forward.”

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