Help AJ Achieve His Dream of Independent Living

My name is Angelo “AJ” Barrucci Jr., and I am a 31-year-old man with developmental disabilities. I have worked hard to become as independent as possible despite the doctors and teachers saying that I would not be able to. I have spent my whole life, so far, proving them wrong. Doctors and teachers said that I could never graduate from high school due to my intellectual disabilities. I graduated from High School and then from Arcadia University’s REAL Certification Program. I worked hard to get my driver’s license and got it during the pandemic. I financed a car a year ago instead of sharing my mom’s car. Now my biggest dream is to have a simple place of my own to call home.

I work full-time as a Dairy Manager at Redner’s Markets, and I take great pride in my job. Like so many others, however, the rising cost of housing has made it nearly impossible for me to save enough for a down payment or 3-4 months of rent on my own. Although I work hard every day, my income currently would not cover the ability to save that much money.

My parents have lovingly supported me by helping pay for some of my expenses. They have spent years teaching me the life skills I need to live independently, and they believe I am ready to take this next important step. Their greatest hope is to see me achieve the dream of living on my own.

If you know me, you know I’m a kind, fun-loving person who enjoys spending time with family and friends. I love watching WWE and AEW wrestling, streaming video games through the Twitch platform and making people smile. I simply want the opportunity to build a life of my own while continuing to work and be an active member of my community.

Now an opportunity has come available to secure a house right near my family in Oaks. It is a fixer upper but I am willing to spend the time and energy to get it cleaned up with help from my parents.

Our goal is to raise $75,000 to help cover the down payment on the home and materials to fix. Every dollar raised will go toward helping me build a safe, stable, and independent future.

Every donation—no matter the size—brings me one step closer to achieving my dream of independence. If you are unable to donate, sharing my story with your family, friends, and community would mean just as much and could help me reach others who are able to help.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read my story and for your generosity, prayers, and encouragement. Your kindness will help make my dream of independent living a reality and give me the opportunity to begin this exciting new chapter in my life.