The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) raised a record $232,000 at its 2024 Awards Gala on Saturday, April 20, at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge. The glamorous community celebration honored three inspiring award recipients and included cultural entertainment, a red-carpet reception, an online auction, a banquet, and dancing during the after-party.

MAPS presented its 2024 Person of the Year Award to Eastern Bank Chair and CEO Robert F. Rivers, who was honored for his 40-year career in banking, for his generous funding and support for hundreds of community organizations in Massachusetts over the years through the Eastern Bank Foundation, and for his unwavering commitment to social justice causes, diversity, equity, and inclusion as the leader of New England’s largest private banking institution.

Addressing the audience of more than 400 community and nonprofit leaders, business owners, public officials, and many others, Rivers, who is a quarter Portuguese, thanked MAPS for the recognition and for motivating him to research his Portuguese roots further.

“Tonight is truly a special evening in ways like none other,” said Rivers, who was introduced to the stage by MAPS CEO Paulo Pinto, MPA, and MAPS Board President Antonio Massa Viana, Esq. “I greatly appreciate you joining us in celebrating MAPS’ great work on behalf of so many, and I am extremely grateful to MAPS for the motivation to learn these insights regarding my Portuguese heritage and for a better understanding and appreciation for the bonds that many of us share here this evening.”

Brazilian-American Lenita Reason was honored with the 2024 MAPS Jorge Fidalgo Community Service Award in recognition of her leadership of the Brazilian Worker Center, an immigrant and community-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the rights of immigrant workers, as its Executive Director, and for her leading advocacy for the passage of the Working Families Mobility Act as Co-Chair of the Driving Families Forward. After a joint 20-year effort that culminated with the law’s approval in November of 2023, all Massachusetts residents can now apply for a driver’s license, regardless of immigration status. Reason was welcomed to the stage by Nelson Fidalgo Barros, nephew of the late Jorge Fidalgo.

“Thank you very much to Paulo Pinto and the MAPS Board for recognizing the work that I did, not because I wanted to get something out of it, but because I knew what it was like to live and work in this country without a driver’s license,” said Reason. “The driver’s license campaign was a priority for us, but there is still much work to do, so I am very grateful to my team. We did believe, from day one, that this would be possible.”

Cabo-Verdean-American Tony DaRocha was introduced by Barbara Coutinho, daughter of the late Manuel N. Coutinho, who presented him with the 2024 MAPS Manuel N. Coutinho Outstanding Volunteer Award. With a notable decades-long career as an educator in the Boston public school system, DaRocha was recognized especially for his volunteer work with the Boston United Track & Cross-Country Club, a nonprofit organization that he co-founded in 2011 to provide year-round training free of charge to young athletes in the Boston area, including many immigrant children and teenagers, helping them achieve success both academically and athletically. DaRocha also works as a volunteer coach and recruiter for the Cabo Verde Olympic Committee, having mentored Olympians such as Ruben Sança, who competed for Cabo Verde in the 2012 Olympics in London.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to receive this award,” said DaRocha. “My two sons told me when they were younger, ‘Dad, we know that from September to June, you have to be everyone else’s father, but you’re always our dad.’ I also want to thank my father, José DaRocha, who is here today, for instilling such a strong work ethic in me. I just want to continue helping as many folks as I can because folks helped me.”

During the MAPS CEO remarks, Paulo Pinto thanked all the staff, Board members, business sponsors, media sponsors, advertisers, donors, guests, and entertainers who contributed to the success of MAPS’ record-breaking Gala and compared immigrants’ challenging journey from their countries of origin to the U.S. to the rise and fall of the tides.

“It is a journey filled with challenges, uncertainties, and an unfamiliar landscape, yet it is also filled with hope, potential, and the promise of a better tomorrow,” said Pinto. “At MAPS, we have made it our mission for the past 54 years to be the guiding light for immigrants and their families as they embark on this life-changing voyage. We believe in not only helping them adapt to their new surroundings but also empowering them to build healthy, fulfilling lives and contribute to the make-up of our diverse and vibrant communities.”

Pinto called on MAPS staff to join him on stage as he thanked them for their tireless efforts leading up to the Gala and throughout the year serving tens of thousands of community members, and presented MAPS Director of Development Lois Josimovich with a special bouquet in recognition of her decades-long career at MAPS. Josimovich will be retiring at the end of June of 2024 after 35 years as a vital member of the MAPS executive team in the Development and Communications departments.

The MAPS 2024 Awards Gala was again sponsored at the highest Diamond level by Dunkin’ franchisees, the Couto, Cafua, Sardinha, and Serpa families. For the first time, the event was sponsored by a second Diamond sponsor, Eastern Bank.

Representing the group of Dunkin’ sponsors, Salvi Couto, President of Couto Management Group, took to the stage to present the Diamond Sponsor Greetings.

“Like Dunkin’, MAPS is part of the fabric of our community at large,” said Couto. “Just like you can count on Dunkin’ for a fast and delicious meal and that tasty cup of coffee when you need it most, Portuguese-speaking immigrants and their families can trust MAPS for the services and support they need to resolve critical issues and move forward.”

Gala guests also had the opportunity to hear from Emerald sponsors Mark Chaves, co-founder of the Joe & Dorothy Chaves Foundation, and Andrea White, President and CEO of Naveo Credit Union. Luis Pedroso, CEO of Emerald Sponsor Zorean Inc., could not attend but was represented by his family.

The fundraising event was also sponsored by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, East Cambridge Savings Bank, the Trefethen Family (Gold sponsors); Fish Family Foundation, Globo Travel in partnership with Copa Airlines (Silver sponsors); and Bronze sponsors Marjie and Philip’s Advisors Living, Auxzillium IT Services and Solutions, Cambridge Printing Company, Coelho Realty Group, J&F Construction, Massa Viana Law, Metalstone Technologies, M.S Walker partnering with Dona Maria Wines, Point32 Health, and S&F Concrete.

Following the cocktail reception, the distinguished guests were welcomed to the Royal Sonesta’s glamorous ballroom by the beautiful sounds of the Portuguese concertina, performed by local group Concertinas do Norte, and greeted by the evening’s co-hosts, State Representative Priscila Sousa and Cambridge City Councillor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler. After the delicious banquet, Cambridge-based dance school Moves N’ Vibes entertained the crowd with a stunning dance performance of Brazilian, Cabo Verdean, and Portuguese songs. Following the Awards ceremony, guests took to the dance floor at the Gala’s after-party, with DJ Lopes spinning the records.

The Gala Online auction contributed significantly to the evening’s successful fundraising efforts, thanks to its many exciting items and experiences generously donated by Casa Portugal Restaurant, Chef Ana Ortins, Cissy Coutinho, M.S. Walker and Dona Maria Wines, Kyocera, Lynda Paris, Muqueca Restaurant, New England Revolution, Oak Bistro Restaurant, Red Sox Foundation, Royal Sonesta Hotel, Washington Ramos, Wegman’s, and others.

MAPS has served the Portuguese-speaking communities of Massachusetts and others since 1970. The organization offers free health and social services through its seven offices in Cambridge, Somerville, Brighton, Dorchester, Framingham, Lowell, and soon, Everett.