FIRST WOMAN ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF THE PORTUGUESE FOUNDATION, INC.
Attorney Manuela M. Freitas, a Member and Director of The Portuguese Foundation for more than fifteen years was unanimously elected as the first woman president of this Connecticut Portuguese American group.
Hartford, Connecticut – At the 2011 Annual Meeting of The Portuguese Foundation, Inc., held on February 24th at the Nutshell Restaurant, members and directors of the group unanimously voted to have a woman lead the group as President for the first time in its 20 year history.
Attorney Manuela M. Freitas, of West Hartford, Connecticut, was voted to take the helm of the group and steer it into the future with the hopes of attracting more volunteers and members to its mission. In her acceptance speech, before the Board of Directors, Attorney Freitas reiterated her desire to see, “more professionals from our community join the group and expand our attempts to bring cultural events to as many people as possible.”
The Portuguese Foundation was founded in January 1990 as a non-profit, non-religious, non-political group dedicated to the advancement of Portuguese people and dissemination of Portuguese culture throughout the State of Connecticut. Every year the group honors the brightest and most financially needy high school and college students from Connecticut at its annual scholarship banquet in the Spring. This year will mark the 20th Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet, which will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2011, at the Hall of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Hartford.
In addition to Madam President Freitas, the group also elected the following individuals as officers: Manuel Goulart as First Vice-President, Attorney Maria A. Santos as Second Vice-President, Attorney Gabriel R. Serrano as Treasurer and Ofelia Matos as Secretary. Outgoing President, Jose “Zak” Bravado stated at the meeting, “The Foundation is set to continue to build on the successes it has had in the last couple of years with the new President and Officers, and I look forward to support them in all they plan to do.”
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