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Our 2026 Awards Gala was an incredible success!
Thank you for your generous support.

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For any Gala-related payments and donations, please use the link below:

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Gala Program Book & Community Directory

THANK YOU TO OUR AUCTION DONORS: Ana Patuleia Ortins, Boston Legacy FC, Bramerica English School, Cavaleiro’s Steakhouse, COPA Airlines, Fogo de Chão, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Isotec Remodeling, J&H Auto Repair, J&J Restaurant, Lisa & Richard Mandel, Luciano Lima Lima, Lynda Paris, M.S. Walker, Oliveira’s Bar & Grill, Thazar Hair Studio, The Trustees of Reservations, Trem Caipira, Valentina’s Portuguese Market, Vineyard Farm, Viva’s Flower, and Wagner Floral Designs

2026 Gala Award Recipients

MAPS 2026 Person of the Year
SENATOR MICHAEL RODRIGUES
Chair of Ways and Means, Massachusetts State Senate

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MAPS Community Service Award
TALITA TEIXEIRA
Community Leader and Social Media Influencer

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MAPS Outstanding Volunteer Award
PAULO DE BARROS
Board President of the Cape Verdean Association of Boston

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2026 Gala Entertainment

Live Musical Performance
SO ALMA

Led by Portuguese vocalist Sofia Almeida, So Alma fuses Lusophone heritage with global jazz. The group features Portuguese bassist Lara Pereira, American drummer Lee Fish, and pianist Reese Pike, all shaped by their time at the prestigious Berklee College of Music.

After Party
DJ NANA

Antonio Andrade, known as DJ Nana, was born in Brava, Cape Verde, and has lived in Rhode Island since 1999. With over a decade of experience, he is known for blending genres and creating unforgettable experiences. He specializes in a wide range of music styles, including Cape Verdean, American, Latin, Portuguese, and multicultural sounds.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

DIAMOND SPONSORS

EMERALD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

About the Gala

The MAPS Awards Gala celebrates the achievements of Portuguese-speaking communities in Massachusetts while honoring individuals and organizations advancing empowerment and community impact.

As MAPS’ premier annual fundraising event, the Gala brings together supporters for an unforgettable evening featuring live music, a red-carpet cocktail reception, exceptional dining, and inspiring stories of leadership, service, and community engagement.

The MAPS Jorge Fidalgo Community Service Award is presented annually to someone who has demonstrated by his or her actions a strong commitment to the social, educational, cultural and political welfare of the various Portuguese-speaking communities in the Greater Boston area.  In 2001, the year of his untimely death, MAPS Board of Directors voted to name the annual Community Service Awards in honor of Jorge Fidalgo, a distinguished member of Boston’s Cabo Verdean community.

The MAPS Mary & Manuel Rogers Lifetime Community Service Award is presented to the individual who best exemplifies the spirit of lifetime service to the Portuguese-speaking communities that Mary & Manuel Rogers demonstrated throughout their lives. The late Mr. Rogers was a longtime Cambridge resident, owner of the Rogers Funeral Home and a steadfast community benefactor. His wife, Mary, son Manuel Rogers Jr. and their family have continued that tradition throughout their lives as well.

The MAPS Manuel N. Coutinho Outstanding Volunteer Award is presented annually to individuals who follow the outstanding example of the late Manuel N. Coutinho, Volunteer Citizenship Teacher, in unselfishly volunteering time and energy on behalf of the Portuguese-speaking communities of eastern Massachusetts. Mr. Coutinho helped prepare Portuguese speakers and other immigrants for American citizenship at MAPS from 1969 until 2002, as well as volunteering for many other community groups.

The MAPS Álvaro Lima Outstanding Business Award honors businesses that, through their own regular activities or by supporting others’ initiatives, have made the lives of the Portuguese-speaking communities easier. The award is named after Álvaro Lima, the Director of Research at the Boston Redevelopment Authority, who was chosen for his longstanding commitment to help small businesses thrive in the greater Boston area.

The MAPS Person of the Year Award has always recognized individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to helping MAPS and the communities we serve. It is the highest honor bestowed by the agency each year.