Plans are well under way for the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) 2017 Awards Gala, which will be presented by four Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owners: the Apres, Cafua, Couto and Riverside Management Groups. The black-tie-optional event will take place Saturday, April 29th, at the elegant Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge. It will feature a Red Carpet arrival, cocktail reception, banquet, awards ceremony honoring distinguished community members and organizations, silent auction, entertainment and much more.
The private, non-profit organization’s annual fundraiser has once again obtained the support and endorsement of distinguished national and local leaders, through its Gala Honorary Committee, including: U.S. Senators Elizabeth A. Warren and Edward J. Markey, U.S. Congressmen Michael E. Capuano and Seth Moulton, U.S. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Robert A. DeLeo, Massachusetts Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg, Massachusetts State Senators Sal N. DiDomenico and James B. Eldridge, Massachusetts State Representative Evandro C. Carvalho, Cambridge City Councilor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., Consul General of Portugal José Velez Caroço, Consul General of Brazil Glivânia Maria de Oliveira, Consul General of Cabo Verde Hercules Nascimento Cruz, Mark Cafua, CEO of the Cafua Management Group, Duarte Carvalho, CEO, President and Principal of the Riverside Management Group, Sal Couto, CEO of the Couto Management Group, Tom Croswell, President and CEO of the Tufts Health Plan, Rui Domingos, CEO of the Naveo Credit Union, Paul Ferreira, Principal of the Cambridge Printing Company, Isabel Morais, MD, FACOG, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Gilda M. Nogueira, President and CEO of the East Cambridge Savings Bank, Luis Pedroso, President of Accutronics, Robert F. Rivers, President, COO and Vice-Chairman of the Eastern Bank Corporation, Arthur Rodrigues, COO and Principal of the Riverside Management Group, Dinart Serpa, President of the Apres Management Group, Patrick Wardell, CEO of the Cambridge Health Alliance, and representatives of the families who lend their names to the MAPS Gala Awards: Ana Fidalgo, Álvaro Lima, Barbara Coutinho and Manuel Rogers, Jr.
The MAPS 2017 Awards Gala is sponsored by major companies and organizations, including both long-time supporters and new partners. This year, presenting Diamond Sponsors are the Apres Management Group, Cafua Management Group, Couto Management Group and Riverside Management Group (four Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owners). MAPS’ Platinum Sponsors include the Fish Family Foundation and Tufts Health Plan and the Gold Sponsors include the Cambridge Health Alliance and Naveo Credit Union. East Cambridge Savings Bank and Neighborhood Health Plan sponsor the MAPS gala at the Silver level once, and Bronze Sponsors include Accutronics Inc., Cambridge Printing Company, Eastern Bank Corporation, Rocco’s Restaurant and Bar and S&F Concrete Contractors, Inc..
“We are honored to be able to count on the generous support of these companies and organizations, without whom it would be impossible for us to put together this wonderful yearly event honoring five outstanding members of our communities,” said Paulo Pinto, MPA, MAPS Executive Director.
Gala sponsorship as well as advertising opportunities for the MAPS 2017 Awards Gala Program Book & Community Directory are still available by calling (617) 864-7600 or visiting www.maps-inc.org. The same contacts can be used to reserve Gala seating at $100 per person, which supports all MAPS’ programs and services.
MAPS provides cultural and linguistically competent services for Portuguese-speaking communities and other Massachusetts residents with continued support from United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley and many other private and public funders. The organization has offices in Cambridge, Somerville, Brighton, Dorchester, Lowell and Framingham.