Pathfinders for Autism (PFA) today announced the launch of its 25th anniversary Community Connector Campaign, an initiative designed to strengthen autism resources and services statewide by 2030.
The Community Connector campaign will place specialized, community-based professionals in all five Maryland regions, deepening PFA’s impact across the state. With autism prevalence rising by 594% since PFA’s founding in 2000, it’s not if you’ll meet someone with autism, but when. This statewide initiative will help meet the growing need for tailored support and specialized care.
“The launch of the Community Connector Campaign is a deeply personal milestone for Pathfinders for Autism and me,” said PFA co-founder Polly Winde Surhoff. “As a family, we’ve seen firsthand the gaps in support that families and professionals face. This campaign is our commitment to closing those gaps, ensuring that every Maryland family, professional, and community member can access the personalized Autism resources and services they need to thrive.”
The Community Connector Program Will Provide For:
- Training New Professionals: Equipping professionals who live and work in the community with autism-specific knowledge to serve Maryland’s diverse population.
- Building Community: Strengthening event programming tailored to local communities in Maryland’s five regions, building expansive connections and support networks.
- Recruiting Volunteers: Engaging volunteers to help implement new programs and advocate for local businesses and community networks.
- Growing Advocacy and Awareness: Increasing autism awareness in safety, community integration, and resource access.
Pathfinders for Autism aims to raise $1.8 million in 2025 to fund the Community Connector Program. The campaign is chaired by Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, Dr. Mohan Suntha, president and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical System, and Joe Knott, president of Henry J. Knott Masonry. Leadership gifts of $50,000 and $25,000 will help drive the effort and provide access to exclusive events, including the Pathfinders for Autism 25th Anniversary Concert, an intimate concert with a national recording artist.
Founded in 2000 by parents of children with autism at a time when autism awareness was low, Pathfinders for Autism has since supported families, individuals, and professionals through its Resource Center—staffed by parents of children with autism who understand the challenges firsthand.
Together, they have:
- Served more than 227,000 individuals in Maryland, including 123,124 families
- Provided 2,554 individuals with safety training
- Delivered community training to 48,787 law enforcement, parents, healthcare, and other professionals
- Hosted more than 50,000 individuals for free recreational activities, allowing them to enjoy community outings in a judgment-free zone.
Despite these accomplishments, Pathfinders for Autism recognizes that much more needs to be done to meet the needs of Maryland’s growing autism community. With the autism diagnosis rate in Maryland now at 1 in 43 children with 16,000 students receiving autism services in public schools, plus an estimated 1 in 45 adults with autism—demand continues to grow.
Through the Community Connector Campaign, Pathfinders for Autism is committed to strengthening support so all Marylanders affected by autism can access services in their communities.
For more information or to make a leadership donation, visit PFA25.org.
About Pathfinders for Autism
Pathfinders for Autism (PFA) is a Maryland-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 2000 by parents of children with autism, including Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer William “B.J.” Surhoff and his wife, Polly Winde Surhoff. For the past 25 years, Pathfinders for Autism has been committed to helping individuals with Autism, their families and professionals find Safety, Community and Resources. PFA’s passionate staff and personally invested board members dedicate themselves to providing valuable tools from a source that people can trust.
