The International Institute of New England, Lowell Office, has announced it is honoring entrepreneur and philanthropist, Luis Pedroso, with the 1st American Dream Award at a ceremony scheduled for December 11, starting a 5:50pm, at the United Teen Equality Center in Lowell, Massachusetts.
The American Dream Award is presented “to an individual who embodies the work ethic, ingenuity and generosity that are hallmarks of the immigrant experience,” the announcement stated.
Luis Pedroso, co-founder and president of Accutronics, Inc., a full service EMS provider, was previously president and CEO of Qualitronics, a contract electronics manufacturing service company with $25 million in yearly sales.
Luis and his family were clients of the International Institute when they first moved from São Jorge island, Azores, to Lowell in the 1970s. Today, Luis is a civic leader dedicated to promoting education in the Portuguese community.
His commitment to education led him to co-found the Saab-Pedroso Center for Portuguese Culture and Research at UMass Lowell as well as the largest private donor to the Helio and Amelia Pedroso Endowed Chair in Portuguese Studies at UMass Dartmouth.
The awards ceremony is open to the public. The event will feature the unveiling of an interactive timeline exploring the immigrant history of Lowell over the last 100 years. Incorporating files from over 5,000 families served by the International Institute’s Lowell office since 1918.
The International Institute of Lowell was founded in 1918 in response to a large influx of European immigrants into the Lowell area. Today, as a part of the International Institute of New England’s regional network, the organization continues to support the needs of Lowell community’s newest arrivals with services that include education, employment, citizenship and health services. Annually, the organization programs impact over 1500 individuals and their families.
For donations, tickets and information visit the International Institute of New England. For additional information or questions, contact Derek Mitchell, Director at the International Institute of Lowell, at (978) 596-0069 or dmitchell@iilowell.org
Source: International Institute of New England.
paj.staff.updated.11.19.14
