The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers will honor the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, former Prime Minister of Portugal, with the MAPS’ 2018 Person of the Year Award at the organization’s 2018 Awards Gala on April 28, in Cambridge.

Before being appointed as the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Portuguese diplomat and politician served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees between 2005 and 2015. During this period, he played a key role in dealing with a massive refugee crisis triggered by conflicts and crises in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Yemen. Mr. Guterres served as prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002, during which time he was heavily involved in the international effort to resolve the crisis in East Timor.

“We are ecstatic to be able to honor Secretary-General Guterres for his exemplary career in service to the people of Portugal—and now, all nations,” said Paulo Pinto, MPA, MAPS Executive Director. “The MAPS Person of the Year Award is our way of honoring him for his outstanding career in government and diplomacy, and extraordinary devotion to humanitarian principles—a great source of pride for the Portuguese-speaking communities that MAPS has served for nearly 50 years.”

Past Person of the Year Award recipients include well-known world banker and philanthropist Lawrence K. Fish; David Simas, former Assistant to President Barack Obama and current CEO of the Obama Foundation; and the late Mayor of Boston, Thomas Menino.

Everyone is invited to attend the MAPS 2018 Awards Gala, a black tie-optional event with a red carpet arrival, banquet, awards ceremony, silent auction, dancing, entertainment and much more. The audience will include more than 400 distinguished business and community leaders, elected officials and other health and human service providers.

The other previously announced 2018 honorees are Dr. Lourenço Garcia, Principal of the Revere High School, Community Service Award; Osvalda Rodrigues, MA, former Program Director at MAPS, Lifetime Community Service Award; Fernando Castro, philanthropist and owner of Income Tax Plus, Outstanding Business Award; and Regina Rodrigues, a longtime volunteer with the MAPS HIV/ STI Services, Outstanding Volunteer Award.

The event will be presented once again by Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owners Apres, Cafua, Couto and Riverside Management Groups, and Fernando Sardinha Administration, Diamond level sponsors.

Click here for Gala Sponsorship Opportunities, RSVP and more information.