Board of Directors

WE CANNOT CHANGE THE WORLD BY OURSELVES

The people behind the organization

ConnerStrong Foundation works to bring awareness to mental health issues and suicide prevention and to change the discussion about mental health, especially in our teens and young adults. The foundation also provides outreach and comfort to the families and communities affected by mental health and suicide.

MEET US

Tom Worosz

President & Founder

Tom is Conner’s father. Tom has spent over 20 years in the IT consulting and sales field. He is a data center account executive at Dell Technologies, working with the Centers for Disease Control and The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services. A native of Northern VA, Tom graduated from Paul VI High School in 1988, then attended the University of Dayton. Very active growing up, Tom attained Eagle Scout and played baseball, soccer and wrestling. Wrestling became his sport of choice and he excelled at his craft, capturing a VISAA state championship title. He has coached youth baseball and soccer in Northern Virginia and resides in Alexandria, VA with his wife Mindi and son, Jack. During his “free time” Tom enjoys golfing, fishing and spending time with his loved ones.

Mindi Worosz

Vice President

Mindi is Conner’s mother. Growing up in Northern VA, Mindi attended Thomas Edison High School and taught elementary school for several years, prior to being office manager for an internal medicine practice in Alexandria, VA. Mindi resides in Alexandria with Tom and their son, Jack.

Jack Worosz

As Conner’s younger brother, Jack idolized and looked up to Conner. While Jack will not have Conner physically around, he can hold onto Conner in his heart and share Conner and his story with many other children. Jack is already speaking out to his friends and peers with the hope that he can help other children. Jack plays travel baseball and attends Immanuel Christian High School in Alexandria, VA.

Linda Silver Bufano

Linda has lived in the DC area since 1974. She worked on the House Foreign Affairs Asia & Pacific Subcommittee, Korea Economic Institute, the corporate office of Cartoon Cuts, the Annandale Chamber, the Fairfax Chamber and finally began a 10-plus year career with the Fairfax County Government, starting with Supervisor Sharon Bulova, Supervisor Penny Gross, Supervisor John Cook and now Supervisor James Walkinshaw. While working for Supervisor Cook she became involved with the ConnerStrong Foundation and worked to bring CSF and other suicide prevention organizations together with those inside the Fairfax County Government and Fairfax County Public Schools. Somewhere during her career, she married, raised two daughters, two dogs and a host of guinea pigs and hamsters!

JP McKenna

Funding and Special Events

JP is an Army Brat and has lived in the Northern Virginia area for 25 years. He grew up with a tremendously close family dynamic. He has been a government contractor for over 10 years supporting and focusing on State Department and DoD logistics and operations. JP met Conner in 2014 and quickly developed a close bond. He even became his pseudo golf “coach” giving him lessons in order to attain Conner’s goal of joining the Hayfield High School golf team. JP joined the ConnerStrong Board of Directors in 2019 and has been heavily involved in organizing/running the Foundation’s events. He works for Booz Allen Hamilton, and lives in Alexandria with his favorite four-legged goofball, Jax!

Suzanna Gonzalez

Secretary

Suzanna is a teacher with Fairfax County Public Schools, where she has worked for more than 20 years teaching both English to speakers of other languages and Spanish. In addition to her job, she is an active member of the church that she has attended for nearly 25 years. She and her husband Milton have two college-aged sons, Alex and Nicholas. She is proud to serve on the CSF Board out of her love for the Worosz family and her belief in its important mission.

Ashley Thorpe, LMSW, QMHP-C

Director of Programs

Ashley was born and raised in the City of Alexandria, VA. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work and Minors in Gender & Women’s Studies and LGBTQ Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a Posse Foundation Scholar. She continued her education at the University of Washington-Seattle, earning a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Community-Centered Integrative Practice. As a licensed master social worker, Ashley strives to create more compassionate spaces for mental wellness, especially for youth. She is committed to social justice and healing-centered practices in both her career and personal life. She hopes to establish inclusive connections with the local community to foster more resiliency, eliminate stigmas surrounding mental health, and create multifaceted cultural and systemic shifts towards mental wellness. She is a regional Sources of Strength trainer and has trained hundreds of middle and high school youth in Northern and Central Virginia and Washington, D.C. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being in nature, practicing yoga, viewing and making artwork, and having authentic conversations with others. In her role, Ashley will be responsible for all strategic and tactical aspects of our programs.

Honorary Role

Tom Worosz Jr.

Tom Worosz Jr. is a retired IBM and NCR sales executive. After having lived in Fairfax County for 47 years and raising 7 children, he and his wife, Ann Marie, moved to a small rural community located twelve miles from Charlottesville, Virginia. As Conner’s grandfather, Tom became immediately involved when the ConnerStrong Foundation was founded in May 2017. His work with the Foundation has enabled him to gain a totally different perspective of the challenges and pressures being felt by todays’ youth. Tom is Louisa County’s representative to Virginia’s Region 10 Community Services Board (CSB) of Directors, giving him the ability to utilize his experiences with ConnerStrong to enhance my work with Region 10 CSB.

Ann Marie Worosz

Ann Marie is Conner’s “ Grammy”, and he is her first grandson. Born in Atlanta, Ga, Ann Marie grew up and became a nurse. After marrying, she became a stay at home mom to 7 wonderful children, raising them in Annandale, Va. Although she retired from the nursing job where she got paid $$$, she continued the “nursing” at home where the pay was incalculable and the benefits never ceasing. She and her husband now live in Zion Crossroads, Va, just outside Charlottesville, where they relax and enjoy a peaceful and southern Va. lifestyle. Ann Marie spends her time crocheting, reading, and loving on her grandchildren.

John Peele

John Peele is a native Virginian having lived most of his life in Northern Virginia. As well as being Mindi’s father and Conner’s grandfather, he has four other grandchildren, one great-grand child and another on the way. He has had a career at a government research facility for the last 54 years. His interests include sailing, photography, bicycling, RVing and long walks.

DIANE Peele

Diane Peele is a native Virginian having lived most of her life in Northern Virginia. As well as being Mindi’s mother and Conner’s grandmother, she has four other grandchildren, one great-grand child and another on the way. She has worked for the same Internal Medicine practice for 40 years, retiring as office manager. Her outside activities include Rving, cooking, doing numerous crafts and any activity with her family.