Kicking Off The Next 25 Years
PFA kicked off the year celebrating our 25th Anniversary year with a private concert featuring the multi-platinum artist The Goo Goo Dolls. It was an incredible night of great music and generosity that helped lay the path for PFA to officially launch our Community Connector Program. The Community Connector Program will expand awareness and advocacy programs of PFA pillars – Safety, Community and Resource in Maryland’s five geographic regions.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
REBECCA RIENZI
COMMUNITY
CONNECTOR
PROGRAM
PFA launched our Community Connector Program, hiring our first two Connectors in the Western and Central Maryland Regions. Our Community Connectors work at the grassroots level to deliver PFA’s Safety, Community, and Resource programming. Looking forward, PFA will hire three more Community Connectors to serve the Capital, Southern and Eastern Shore regions. The goal of our Community Connector program is to help individuals with autism and their families to feel supported in their very own communities.
ADD MAP
SIGNATURE
FUNDRAISING
Building on the momentum of our historic 25th anniversary celebration, 2026 has been a year of meaningful growth.
Our signature fundraising events, Run Wild for Autism, the PFA Golf Tournament, and Pickle with Purpose, continued to thrive while supporting our programs, expanding awareness, and building lasting relationships across our community.
We are deeply grateful to our community partners and supporters who host events on our behalf, including the long-standing Jazzercise for Autism and Lift for Autism. Their initiative and generosity extend our reach and advance our mission. We are thankful to every individual and major gift donor whose contributions sustain our work beyond events.
Through events both big and small and the generosity of our donors, we are growing the support needed to serve all five regions of the state.
Looking ahead, we will deepen existing relationships, welcome new donors, and corporate partners, and secure the resources that strengthen our programs and statewide impact.
SAFETY
Educating about the most prevalent safety areas to reduce and prevent the risk of injury and danger through first responder training, scholarships for swim lessons, wandering & elopement awareness, and mock traffic stops.
Growing relationships and educating all Maryland citizens to increase awareness, acceptance and belonging for individuals and their support networks through training, outreach, recreation activities, and adult self-advocacy.
COMMUNITY
Offering guidance for individuals and their support networks in locating providers and information to meet their immediate needs through our help line, provider directory, parent/caregiver education, PFA Tip articles, and a webinar library.
RESOURCE
FINANCIALS
Audited financials for the year ending September 30, 2025
A copy of our most recent financial statements is available upon request.
MESSAGE FROM
BJ AND MASON
2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE
BOARD
B.J. Surhoff
President, Pathfinders for Autism
Carin Lazarus
Vice President, Pathfinders for Autism
President and CEO, Media Star Promotions
Bruce L. Schindler
Treasurer, Pathfinders for Autism
President, Bob Davidson Ford Lincoln
Rebecca Faye Smith Galli
Secretary, Pathfinders for Autism
Author, Columnist
Carol Dalton
Senior Vice President, M&T Bank
H. Bradley Donovan
Crestline Summit
Andrew T. Giddens
Senior Vice President, Wealth Director,
PNC Private Bank
Gus Kalaris
Founder and Owner, Constantine Wines, Axios Wine Kalaris Family Vineyards
Kevin P. LaTulip, Jr.
Chair, Financial Services Transactions Practice Group
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
Allie D'Amanda Sacks
Senior Vice President, M&T Bank
Helen Shafer
Founder & President, The Shafer Center
Polly Winde Surhoff
Community Leader
Alicia Wopat
Community Leader
Alisa Rock
Emeritus Board
REBECCA RIENZI
Executive Director
TRISH KANE
Deputy Director
VINCE FIDUCCIA
Development Director
BILL FREEMAN
Development Manager
NIKKI HARRIS
Resource Center Director
KYLAN KEEHAN
Event Assistant
NEAL LICHTER
Program Manager
SHELLY McLAUGHLIN
Program Director
DENISE NEAR
Western Maryland Community Connector
SERENA SHAFER
Administrative Assistant
MASON SURHOFF
Program Support
JODE ZITO
Central Maryland Community Connector
TRAINING TEAM
TOBY DOREMUS
JAKE EDWARDS
ERIC KANE
SGT. FRANK MOSCOSO
CPL. JANELLE MYERS, RET.
GLENN MYERS
ANNU SINGLETON
JOSH SMITH
OFFICER AMY STOUGHTON, RET.
TOM WHALEN
ERICA WHEELER