On Saturday, June 6, the streets of Conshohocken will transform into a high-speed stage, filled with cyclists, spectators, and the rapid pulse of race-day intensity.

For avid cyclist Michael Dinda, EVP and Chief Lending Officer at Firstrust Bank, the third annual Conshy Classic carries a deeper purpose — honoring the life of his son, John Dinda, and building something he wishes had existed during his brief lifetime.

This year, Conshohocken-based Firstrust Bank has stepped in as title sponsor of the fast-growing Conshy Classic. At the center of the event stands its nonprofit beneficiary, Johnnie’s Place, which Dinda founded in memory of his son, who was severely autistic and died unexpectedly in 2024 at age 29.

“He was the oldest of my three children,” Dinda said. “He was a big part of my life. I loved him dearly. His special situation certainly amplified that connection and that love.”

John was largely nonverbal and lived with multiple complex medical challenges. Yet Dinda describes him not by his limitations, but by his presence and the impact he had on those around him.

Throughout a 40-year career in banking, with the last 21 years at Firstrust Bank, Dinda said a “big chunk” of his life was devoted to advocating for his son — first through early intervention and autism awareness efforts, later through fundraising and education initiatives.

He described his approach as “social entrepreneurial.” When systems had gaps, he tried to fill them.

That work became even more urgent as John aged out of the traditional support system at 21. It’s a milestone many families in the autism community know well. Services become harder to coordinate. Social isolation increases. Families often find themselves assembling housing, staffing, funding, and daily programming largely on their own.

Dinda and his ex-wife created a home for John in West Conshohocken and built services around him. But even with funding and staffing in place, something was missing.

“There was still isolation,” Dinda said. “You could manage the house, manage the staff, advocate for funding, but then you still had to create the social, recreational, and vocational connection. Some days were great. Other days, it was lacking.”

The pandemic intensified that fragility. John contracted COVID twice. The second time, complicated by pneumonia and his underlying health conditions, he passed away unexpectedly in his sleep in March 2024.

Dinda speaks about it clinically, as someone who has learned to compartmentalize grief in order to function.

“Otherwise, I get overcome with the pain, the emotion,” he said. “It’s a protective mechanism to deal with the enormity of it all. My passion comes from a place of deep commitment, hope, and love — despite the tragic loss of my beloved son. There was unfinished business. I used to think something like this would have made a difference in terms of John’s well-being.”

That “something” became Johnnie’s Place.

The concept is both practical and visionary. Dinda donated a home he owns next door to his residence in Conshohocken as the first property. The model calls for clusters of affordable, high-quality homes for adults on the autism spectrum, with two primary residents per house.

By clustering four or five homes together, Johnnie’s Place aims to create a critical mass of 12 to 15 individuals living in close proximity — not isolated but connected.

From there, the nonprofit would provide coordinated activities and amenities: morning walks along the Schuylkill River Trail, lunches at local cafés, movie outings, vocational opportunities, social gatherings, even pizza parties around Eagles games.

“The idea is to connect residents to the community, and bring the community to them,” said Dinda. “It helps the residents. It helps the staff. It helps the families. The family doesn’t have to solve every single piece.”

Firstrust’s sponsorship of the Conshy Classic illustrates what Dinda calls the bank’s longstanding commitment to reinvesting in the communities it serves.

“They’re a true community commercial bank,” he said. “We provide banking services, yes. But we also take a generous portion of our prosperity and invest it back into the communities where our customers and employees live and work.”

“At Firstrust, we believe our role goes beyond banking — it’s about supporting the people and causes that strengthen our communities,” said Tim Abell, the bank’s CEO and President. “As the title sponsor of the Firstrust Bank Conshy Classic benefiting Johnnie’s Place, we’re thrilled to stand alongside this great foundation and help bring this meaningful vision to life.”

For Dinda, Firstrust’s support carries deep meaning.

“I’m very grateful,” he said. “They see the good in what we’re trying to build. But I’m not surprised. This is who we’ve been for decades. The bank’s color is red because we’ve got a heart.”

This year, the Conshy Classic will have a different feel. The criterium will run alongside the Conshohocken Arts Festival & Car Show. Together, the events will draw thousands of people to Fayette Street.

The atmosphere will undoubtedly be electric — professional riders navigating sharp corners at breakneck speed while families wander through art booths and classic cars.

It is, in many ways, the perfect metaphor for Johnnie’s Place. A community gathering. Different paths converging. Energy directed toward connection.

For Dinda, the Conshy Classic represents a son whose life continues to shape purpose. It represents a bank choosing to invest in more than balance sheets.

And it represents a belief that adults on the autism spectrum deserve belonging.

Learn more about Johnnie’s Place and how it is creating meaningful community for adults with autism.

Learn more about Firstrust Bank and how it proudly partners with leading charitable organizations across the Philadelphia region.