Saturday

Mar 9, 2019 at 10:00 PM


The Prince Henry Society of Massachusetts’ three chapters — Taunton, New Bedford, and Fall River— will join together to host their annual banquet, honoring the recipients of the Portuguese-American of the Year award.

Recipients are honored for their commitment to their communities and the society's mission of community service and dedication to Portuguese heritage. The banquet will be held Saturday, April 6, at 6 p.m., at the Venus de Milo in Swansea. Tickets are $50. For tickets or more information, contact Elizabeth Soares at 508-828-5328.

The Taunton chapter’s honoree is Elizabeth Marie Soares. Soares began her 30-year career with Bristol County Savings Bank as a teller, advancing through the ranks to her most recent position of vice president/network administrator. She joined the Prince Henry Society Taunton Chapter in June 2013 and in October 2017 she was installed as its first female president. Through her leadership she has reimagined and reinvigorated the scholarship fundraising. As a result of these fundraising events, the Taunton Chapter has increased their scholarship donations 400 percent since she joined the Prince Henry Society. Soares has a daughter Katelyn and resides in North Dighton.

The Fall River chapter will honor Gabriel Teixera Cabral. Cabral immigrated to the United States from the Azores in Portugal in 1959 and received a bachelor's degree in languages from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 1978, after which he worked in various roles in the corporate world until deciding to become a full-time educator. Cabral has assisted many fellow immigrants upon their arrival in the country. In addition, he has enjoyed his hobbies of photography and gardening as well as writing two books. “Traces of Culture” contains many illustrations of how to prune and graft, while “Versos dos Traços de Uma Cultura” is a collection of his personal poetry. Cabral is married and has one daughter.

The New Bedford chapter will honor Carlos Alberto Pinhancos. A graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology, Pinhacos is the owner of PCC Corp., which includes excavation development and consulting services. He has been an active and highly vocal member of his community through volunteering his time, knowledge and many times his expertise in many organizations throughout the city of New Bedford. He has been a member of the society since 2005 and held a board position for many years. Pinhancos also received the Prince Henry Society Pilot Class Award in 2008 and in 2009 he received the fourth Prince Henry Society Founders Award. Pinhancos resides in Rochester with his wife of 20 years, Lucy, and has 4 children, Emilia, Gabriela, Juliana and Antonio.