Community

One of the SOCIETY’s most important activities is to support our community (local/state/national) through various charitable initiatives. Since the SOCIETY’s inception we have donated or contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars in value to the community we serve. Some of the events and programs that have made a difference in our community include:

1. Annual “Family Barbecue” previously known as “Feed the Needy”
2. Distribution of food baskets at Christmas (with about a week’s worth of food for the recipient)
3. Active support of the Junior Achievement program
4. The organizing of an annual trip to a Pawtucket Red Sox game (100+ youth per year participate)
5. Annual blood drives (to stock St. Luke’s blood bank)
6. Scholarship program (in excess of $750,000)
7. Humanitarian Relief Funds allocated to areas adversely impacted by natural disasters
8. Countless charitable requests are reviewed by the Board on a case by case basis and granted on the basis of merit for individuals and/or non-profit organizations.
9. Support of programs to foster and/or preserve our Portuguese Heritage
10. Support of various educational programs

The SOCIETY also promotes and recognizes outstanding volunteerism in our community by recognizing outstanding achievements through awards such as “Brotherhood and Recognition”, “Portuguese American of the Year” and “Person of the Year”