The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020 with a series of initiatives, including a special Gala taking place on April 25 at the Boston Marriott Hotel in Cambridge, which will focus on honoring “the builders of MAPS”, a group of approximately 50 individuals who have played crucial roles in the creation, establishment and expansion of the health and social services nonprofit organization over the past half century.
“This is an outstanding milestone for any organization, but especially for a community-based nonprofit like MAPS,” said Paulo Pinto, MPA, who has served as MAPS’ Executive Director for the past 20 years. “For this special event, we wanted the focus to be on the long history of the organization, as we highlight the incredible group of people who, over the past 50 years, were instrumental in creating and supporting MAPS, developing its programs, expanding its area of service, and strengthening its position as a highly-respected organization serving the Portuguese-speaking communities and others in Massachusetts.”
MAPS had its start as two separate organizations – The Cambridge Organization of Portuguese Americans (COPA), founded in 1970; and the Somerville Portuguese American League (SPAL), created in 1973, who separately served the large population of Portuguese immigrants in these cities for 20 years, focusing mostly in Immigrant Integration Services and Citizenship assistance.
In 1991, SPAL and COPA formally affiliated, and officially merged in July of 1993 to become MAPS. Among the new organization’s goals were improving service provision, ending program duplication, increasing financial stability and including and unifying the many segments of the Portuguese-speaking community in eastern Massachusetts, which now included growing Brazilian and Cabo Verdean communities.
Since then, the organization greatly expanded its programs and services to include support for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, prevention and screening of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, family support services, and elder services; opened new offices in Lowell, Brighton, Dorchester, and Framingham, and increased its yearly budget to more than $3 million, allowing the organization to serve tens of thousands of community members each year.
The MAPS 50th Anniversary Gala is proudly presented at the Diamond sponsorship level by a group of Dunkin’ franchise owners – the Cafua, Carvalho, Couto, Rodrigues, Sardinha and Serpa families. The Gala will be a glamorous black-tie event featuring musical entertainment, a keynote address, a fun cocktail reception, a delicious banquet with complimentary wine service, exciting live and silent auctions, a special anniversary ceremony with presentation of commemorative medals and a celebration of the organizations’ rich history.
MAPS is seeking additional support from potential sponsors, Program Book advertisers and auction donors. Individuals, organizations and businesses interested in supporting the organization are encouraged to contact Andrew Carten, Development Manager, at (617) 864-7600, or download the sponsorship and advertisement forms at www.maps-inc.org/gala2020. Reservations can also be made online, or via the phone at the same contacts listed above.