Radio Voz Do Emigrante celebrates its 30th Anniversary with a gala event to be held on Saturday, March 17, at Venus de Milo, in Swansea, Massachusetts.
Founded in March 17, 1988 by Frank P. Baptista, Radio Voz Do Emigrante serves the Portuguese-speaking community of the South Coast area of Massachusetts and the state of Rhode Island.
Fatima Campos Ferreira is the guest of honor. She is a veteran Portuguese television journalist, from the Lisbon based RTP International, where she hosts “Pros e Contras,” a television show broadcast in the Portuguese-speaking countries around the world. Luis Pires, a radio, television and newspaper personality will be the master of ceremonies.
Thirty community personalities will be honored at the event for their contributions to the Portuguese-American community of the SouthCoast Massachsuetts area and the state of Rhode Island.
The honorees are Rep. Alan Silvia (Fall River, MA); Alfredo Alves (Fall River,MA); Gunga Tavares (Natick, MA); Clemente Anastacio (Pawtucket, RI); Sen. Michael Rodrigues (Westport, MA); Lionel Teixeira (Pawtucket, RI); Prof. Jose Costa (East Providence, RI ); Valdir Alves (Brockton, MA); Sen. Viriato de Macedo (Plymouth, MA); Fernando Santos (Fall River, MA) ; Liberal Silva (Fall River, MA); Otilia Ferreira (Taunton, MA); Joao Luis Morgado Pacheco (East Providence, RI); Dr. Jorge Andrade, (Somerset, MA); Dionisio Costa (Taunton,MA); Manuel Estrela (Fall River, MA); Antonio (Tony) Varela (East Bridgewater, MA); Atty. Paul Bettencourt (East Providence, RI); Prof. Donaldo Macedo Scituate (MA); Catarina Avelar (Dartmouth, MA); David Andrade (Seekonk, RI); Ricardo Farias (Dartmouth, MA); Rep. Antonio (Tony) Cabral, (New Bedford,MA); Willitts (Will) Mendonca (Taunton, MA); Victoria Cabral ( Pawtucket, RI); Virginia Goncalves (East Providence, RI); Joan Medeiros (Fall River, MA); Rep. Evandro Carvalho (Dorchester,MA); Joao (Vuca) Pinheiro (Brockton,MA); and Victoria Lobban (Fall River, MA).
The late Frederico Pacheco of Bristol, RI, will be recognized posthumously for his contributions to the Portuguese community and his weekly appearance on “Radio Voz do Emigrante.” An award will be also presented posthumously to the late Paul Gelzinis for enabling the existence of the radio show.
Radio Voz do Emigrante will also recognize 10 organizations for their contributions namely the Prince Henry Society of Massachusetts; Center for Portuguese Studies at UMass Dartmouth; Ideal Club; Amigos da Terceira; LusoCentro at Bristol Community College; Lusophone Center at Rhode Island College; Pedro Pires Center at Bridgewater State University; Casa dos Acores da Nova Englaterra; The Great Holy Ghost Feast of New England; and Cape Verdean American Community Development.
A special award will be presented to the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS, based in Washington, D.C., for its national leadership on behalf of the Portuguese-American community.
Entertainment includes the John Miranda Band, Gardenia Benros from Florida and Jose Alberto Reis from Portugal.
Source: Radio Voz do Emigrante
