The PRINCE HENRY SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS, NEW BEDFORD CHAPTER was founded in 1980 by Milton Ferreira and the late Anthony S. Catojo, Jr. and Gabriel "Gabe" Moura to preserve the contribution of the Portuguese in America and promote the cultural, economic, educational and social betterment of persons of Portuguese descent.The SOCIETY is limited to business and professional people of Portuguese descent (only one parent needs to have been born in Portugal) who become members by invitation. These selected people must be willing to be active and personally contribute to the goals of the SOCIETY. The by-laws of the SOCIETY limit the membership to one hundred individuals in each of three chapters (New Bedford, Fall River and Taunton) and do not allow more than four individuals from any one profession or business, in order to provide diversification of membership reflective of the community at large. Although the SOCIETY is a service organization, it has also developed a strong fraternal bond among its members.
From granting of "Distinguished Service Awards" to presenting "Person of the Year Awards" to outstanding people in our community, the SOCIETY has worked tirelessly for the betterment of the community it serves as well as the preservation of the heritage of people of Portuguese descent. In its history of involvement in many community endeavors spanning over two decades, this 501 (c) (3) non-profit SOCIETY has provided many important contributions to the region, including: - Providing scholarships to over 450 students of Portuguese descent in an aggregate amount in excess of $450,000
- Erecting the monument of Prince Henry "The Navigator" at Marine Park in New Bedford to celebrate the contributions of all immigrants who came to New Bedford's shores
- Feeding countless numbers of local families and people in need
- Providing thousands of dollars in charitable funds to worthy organizations
- Participating in countless cultural events
~ Hold a blood drive on a yearly basis to help stock the local blood bank at St. Lukes Hospital
~ The yearly PAW Sox outing: 100s of local youth continue to be treated to a day trip to see the Pawtucket Red Sox
~ Recognize local community leaders: Brotherhood Award; Recognition Award; Person of the Year Award; Portuguese American of the Year Award
Our three pronged mission:
1. Educational betterment via our scholarship program.
2. Preservation of the Portuguese Heritage.
3. Support the community in a charitable manner. |
