The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) is seeking nominations for its 2026 Annual Awards Gala, scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Cambridge.

The health and social services organization is inviting community members to submit nominations in three award categories: the Jorge Fidalgo Community Service Award, the Manuel N. Coutinho Outstanding Volunteer Award, and the Person of the Year Award. Community members can submit their nominations by Wednesday, September 17, 2025, online at maps-inc.org/gala2026 or by calling 617-864-7600.

The MAPS Annual Awards Gala, the organization’s largest fundraising event, honors the achievements of exceptional individuals and organizations who have contributed significantly to the betterment of the lives of Portuguese-speaking community members and others in Massachusetts. The glamorous event is a lively and fun-filled celebration of Brazilian, Cabo-Verdean, and Portuguese cultures with more than 400 guests, a stylish red-carpet reception, cocktail hour, delicious banquet, live musical entertainment, online auction, after-party, and more.

“Honoring the generosity, success, and leadership within our communities is one of the highlights of the year for us,” said Paulo Pinto, MPA, CEO of MAPS. “Our Gala is an opportunity to shine a light on individuals and organizations whose work uplifts others, and we invite the community to help us recognize them.”

As a private, nonprofit organization, MAPS relies on its annual Gala fundraiser, government contracts, private grants, individual donations, and other resources to provide essential cultural and linguistically competent health and social services to tens of thousands of vulnerable immigrant community members each year. MAPS has served the Portuguese-speaking communities of Massachusetts and others since 1970. The organization offers many free health and social services through its six offices in Cambridge, Somerville, Dorchester, Framingham, Lowell, and Everett.