Porto Charities Names First Executive Director

Porto Charities recently appointed its first executive director, Lawrence M. Rzepka, a development and fundraising veteran with 35 years of experience and deep roots to Catholic schools. Mr. Rzepka has been part of the non-profit sector for more than three decades specializing in nonprofit management, resource development, strategic planning, external relations and governance.

In addition to having served as President of the National Defense University (NDU) Foundation and the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Foundation, he has also held executive leadership positions with the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics Foundation, Gerber Memorial Health Services, and the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network.

His other management roles have been with the National Science Teachers Association, Bethlehem University Foundation, Meridian International Center and the Ameson Education & Cultural Exchange Foundation.

In his early career, he served in a variety of resource development positions with Madonna University, Cleary College, the University of Michigan (Dearborn Campus) & the National Association of College Admission Counselors.

Mr. Rzepka is a Vietnam-Era Veteran having served in the USAF as a Law Enforcement Specialist between 1973-1977. He was appointed a member of the Military Airlift Command’s “MAC Elite Guard” while at Scott AFB and was selected for special assignment and duty at Kunsan AFB, Korea.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, he has been a resident of Northern Virginia for more than twenty years.