PALCUS held its 18th Annual Leadership Awards Gala on October 11th, at the historic Oxon Hill Manor in Prince Georges County, Maryland.  Community leaders, PALCUS supporters, friends old and new, came together from across the country to celebrate the achievements of Portuguese-American individuals and organizations in the areas of art, business, individual and corporate community service and scholarship.

The activities started on Thursday evening at the Embassy of Portugal in Washington, DC with the showing of some short films by the Madeira Film Festival and the Madeira wine cocktail presented by Justino and Broadbent, hosted by Ana Isabel Dantas and Daniel Wallner from the Madeira Film Festival.

The Annual Meeting of PALCUS members took place on Saturday morning. At this meeting, members were given an update on all PALCUS activities throughout the year including the PALCUS Webinar Series, the PALCUS Scholarship Program, the PALCUS Internship Program, and many other programs.

 

The 2014 Leadership Awards Gala was held at the historic Oxon Hill Manor. Honorees included: International Award Vasco Cordeiro President Regional Government of Açores Business Award John Melo President and CEO Amyris   Entrepreneurship Award Bill Freitas Founder of Colonels Limited  (Papa John's Franchise) Education Award Alberto M. Carvalho Superintendant Miami-Dade County Schools   Community Service Award Liliana Canela de Sousa Massachusetts Outstanding Organization Award Portuguese-American War Veterans,  Post #1 Peabody, MA   Special Recognition Award Frank Baptista Director/Owner Radio Voz do Emigrante, WHTB 1400

 

  

Among the distinguished guests that traveled from near and far were:

• The Secretary of the Treasury of Portugal, Dr. Castelo Branco
• The President of the Regional Government of Açores, Vasco Cordeiro
• Maria Joao Avila and Carlos Pascoas of the Portuguese Assembly in Lisbon
• Nancy Rodrigues, the Secretary of Administration of Virginia
• Vasco Rato, president of FLAD in Lisbon
• Ana Isabel Dantas and Daniel Wallner, Madeira Film Festival
• Mark Pannell and Margaret Young of the State Department
• Lino Amaral, CEO of Portuguese American Life in California
• State Senators Daniel da Ponte (RI) and Michael Rodrigues (MA)

 

View more pictures from the 2014 Awards Gala in our Facebook gallery.

 

The awards were specially designed and manufactured by PORCEL Portugal and the coordination for the awards was possible due to a collaboration with Portuguese Trade Commissioner Rui Boavista Marques of AICEP/NY. 

 

In addition to the awards, three scholarships were presented by PALCUS to Horacio Oliveira, Kayla Setters and Mathew Setters.

 

 

Rui Ponte of Maryland, architect and a founding member of PALCUS, served as Master of Ceremonies of the event. Carlos Fonseca provided the fado music, TAP Air Portugal, SATA and Atrium Interiors. There was also a silent auction.

The Luis Sisters from M. Luis Construction Co served as honorary Chairs along with Senators Jack Reed and Patrick Toomey.