Miss Maryland Brooke Poklemba to Represent the Nonprofit Organization in 2010

BALTIMORE, MD – Pathfinders for Autism today announced the kickoff celebration of their 10th anniversary of improving the lives of individuals with autism and their families. The organization also introduced Miss Maryland Brooke Poklemba as the spokesperson for the milestone year.

Pathfinders for Autism was founded in 2000 by a group of parents of children with autism to support and develop lifespan services and provide information and resources for families of children with autism. In honor of their 10th Anniversary, the organization will profile and celebrate ten individuals or families throughout the last decade who have been impacted by Pathfinders or worked closely with the organization to advance its mission. The campaign, “TENder Moments from Pathfinders for Autism” will include a video profile and feature of the individual/family on the tenth day of each month on Pathfinders website (www.PathfindersforAutism.org) and Social Media platforms. The individuals/families will also be highlighted in Pathfinders’ newsletters.

“We are very proud of the work we have done over the last ten years to improve the lives of individuals with autism and their families, as well as supporting care-givers,” stated B.J Surhoff, president of Pathfinders for Autism. “Educating the public about Autism is still one of our major objectives so we are honored to be working with Brooke to increase our presence throughout Maryland, while helping those faced with Autism.”

As the official representative for Pathfinders for Autism, Miss Maryland Brooke Poklemba will strive to promote awareness and understanding of Autism throughout Maryland, as well as the United States. A graduate of Rhodes College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, she worked as an applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapist for children with Autism. Poklemba decided to combine her love of music with her passion for education through the Miss Maryland Organization. As Miss Maryland, she travels throughout the state promoting her personal platform, “Autism Awareness: the importance of early intervention.”

“I’m thrilled to be able to use my platform as Miss Maryland to bring greater attention to the work of Pathfinders for Autism,” stated Poklemba. “Placing the Miss Maryland crown alongside Pathfinders will put a spotlight on autism and help share the resources available for children and families throughout the state who are dealing with the diagnosis. Ultimately, I hope that this relationship will bring national attention to the diagnosis and the many resources available.”