– Event was Presented by Dunkin’ Franchise Owners, the Couto, Cafua, and Serpa Families –

The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) raised over $230,000 at its 2025 Awards Gala on Saturday, April 12, at the Boston Marriott Cambridge Hotel. The glamorous community celebration was again sponsored at the highest Diamond level by Dunkin’ franchisees and longtime MAPS supporters, the Couto, Cafua, and Serpa families.

MAPS honored Bishop Cristiano Barbosa, the first Brazilian-born bishop in the US, with the MAPS 2025 Person of the Year Award in recognition of his nomination in December of 2023 by Pope Francis as the new auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, a great source of pride for the Portuguese-speaking community of Massachusetts and beyond. Bishop Barbosa was also celebrated for his important and inspirational service as a religious leader for the Portuguese-speaking communities of the parishes of St. Anthony in Cambridge and Lowell.

Speaking before the crowd of more than 420 community and business leaders, elected and public officials, MAPS staff, volunteers, supporters, and friends, Bishop Barbosa highlighted the United States heritage as a nation of immigrants.

“All of us are immigrants. This is a nation of immigrants, and we are proud of that,” he said. “It’s more than ever important that institutions like MAPS reaffirm their mission. People ask me all the time ‘What are we going to do? What should we do about the community of immigrants, when we know how challenging it has been?’ And I tell them: just don’t stop. Keep going, continue the beautiful work we are doing, we are not going to stop.”

Cabo Verdean-American Edilia Gomes received the MAPS 2025 Mary & Manuel Rogers Lifetime Community Service Award, in celebration of her extensive career of more than 30 years as a mental health professional. The psychiatric nurse practitioner has dedicated her life’s work to fighting deep-rooted stigmas and tabus surrounding mental health, providing much-needed psychotherapy to thousands of immigrants from Brazil, Portugal, Angola and Cabo Verde.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to MAPS for this recognition and for the ongoing support and shared commitment to the mental health and well-being of our communities,” she mentioned. “For more than 30 years, I’ve had the privilege of working as a mental health clinician. This award is more than a recognition of my work. It’s a tribute to the communities that have embraced me, trusted me, and allowed me the privilege of working with them.”

Michael Carreiro, founder and CEO of Auxzillium IT Services & Solutions, was honored with the MAPS 2025 Álvaro Lima Outstanding Business Award. MAPS celebrated the son of Portuguese immigrants for his highly successful leadership of the company he started 25 years ago, where he continuously fosters a culture of collaboration, generosity, and social responsibility. The business leader  was also recognized for his deep connection to the Portuguese-speaking community of East Cambridge, where he grew up as a proud member of the Filarmónica de Santo António Cultural Center.

“At the Filarmónica, I saw firsthand the power of culture and community,” he recalled. “That place was built on the backs of hardworking people who sacrificed and volunteered their time and energy. That’s the spirit and sense of community I try to carry with me every day. It is a culture and community I am privileged and proud to be part of.”

MAPS CEO Paulo Pinto, MPA, addressed Gala guests to express his deep respect and admiration for the evening’s three honorees, whom he called “champions who have devoted their lives to building healthier and successful communities, empowering individuals, and advocating for those who need it most.” Connecting MAPS’ work and mission and the spirit of community collaboration to the Gala’s theme of celebrating the shared traditions of fishing, Pinto highlighted the importance of relying on each other.

“As we celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and look ahead, let us remember the lesson of the fishing boat – that every catch, every success, comes from working together as one crew—each contributing our unique skills, strengths, and perspectives,” he said. “We cannot thrive in isolation. We must rely on one another, on the strength of our community, and on the belief that together, we can create a future where all lives are healthy, all voices are heard, and all communities are given the opportunity to succeed.”

The glamorous community celebration, hosted by MAPS Board members Edna Monteiro Leith and Susan Pacheco, included a glamorous red-carpet entrance, a cocktail reception and online auction, lively musical moments by Coral Harmonia, Claudio Ramos & Friends, and a dance-packed after-party with DJ Nana.

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

“Together, our families operate hundreds of Dunkin’ locations across Massachusetts and the country. Through these businesses, we contribute to local economies, support vibrant communities, and provide jobs to thousands of individuals,” he noted. “MAPS has been right there, offering invaluable services that help immigrants, and their families break down language, financial, and social barriers”.

Guests also had the opportunity to hear from Emerald sponsors Philip Chaves, co-founder of the Joe & Dorothy Chaves Foundation, and Karen Yee, Senior Vice-President of Naveo Credit Union. Luis Pedroso, CEO of Emerald Sponsor Zorean Inc., was also thanked for his generous and continued support.

The fundraising event was also sponsored by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; Eastern Bank; East Cambridge Savings Bank and Gilda Nogueira Family Fund (Gold sponsors); Auxzillium IT Services and Solutions; Fish Family Foundation; Globo Travel in partnership with Copa Airlines; J&F Construction and MetalStone Technologies (Silver sponsors); and Bronze sponsors Marjie and Philip’s team at Advisors Living Real Estate; Amigos da Terça; Archdiocese of Boston; Cambridge Printing Company; Cambridge Savings Bank; Coelho Realty Group; Gilead Sciences; Greater Lowell Community Foundation; M.S Walker; S&F Concrete; and Tufts Health Plan.

The Gala Online auction contributed significantly to the evening’s successful fundraising efforts, thanks to its many exciting items and experiences generously donated by Ana Patuleia Ortins; Boston Marriott Cambridge Hotel; Casa Portugal Restaurant; CatDog Grooming Salon; Consulate General of Portugal in Boston; Courthouse Seafood Restaurant; Evaldo Rocha; Fogo de Chão; Globo Travel and Copa Airlines; Inman Square Wine & Spirits; Luciano Lima; Manny Rogers, Jr.; M.S. Walker; Muqueca Restaurant; New England Revolution Foundation; Pacheco Jewelers; Wagner Floral Designs; Wilson Gouveia; and Yallem Cake Shop. To learn more about the MAPS 2025 Awards Gala, please visit maps-inc.org/gala2025.

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, Brighton, Dorchester, Everett, Framingham, Lowell, and Somerville. You can learn more about the organization at maps-inc.org.