Manuel Fernando Neto

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
<big></big><big>Manuel Fernando Neto</big>
* Born on Aug. 29, 1942, in the island of Faial, Açores.
* Son of João Moniz Neto and Filomena Alice Andrade.
* Immigrated to the United States, January 1960.
* Educated at New Bedford High School, S.M.U. (Umass Dartmouth) and Brown University of Providence, RI.
* Elected to the New Bedford City Council in 1971 and re-elected in 1973 and 1975.
* Elected President of the New Bedford City Council in 1977.
* Co-founded the Immigrants Assistance Center of New Bedford, MA in 1972.
* Co-led movement to create Bilingual Education in Massachusetts. First in the United States.
* Co-led movement to create a Portuguese branch of the New Bedford Public Library- Casa da Saudade.
* Conceptualized and created the Community Center on Thompson St., New Bedford, where services such as: The Immigrants Assistance Center, Casa da Saudade, LASA (Luso-American Soccer Association) Escola Oficial Portuguesa, among others, were housed.
* Responsible for the creation of the Senior Citizens Center on Ashley Park in New Bedford.
* Founded the Portuguese-American Congress of New England in 1985.
* Co-Founded the Fundação Faialense (Scholarships) in 1969.
* Co-founded the Club União Faialense of New Bedford in 1962.
* Instrumental in the founding of P.B.A. (Portuguese- Businessman Association) of Fall River, MA. in 1982.
* Responsible for the Sistership Alliance between Horta and New Bedford in 1972.
* Instrumental in the creation of an Endowed Chair in Portuguese studies at Umass Dartmouth.
* Led numerous Community Fundraisers.
* Served as Director/ Officer of many Community Organizations including:
# Volunteers of America of Greater New Bedford
# Heart Fund Campaign (1979) General Chairman
# SER JOBS for Progress of Fall River (Director)
# Knights of Columbus in New Bedford Fourth Degree
# Fundação Faialense of New England- President
# Club União Faialense of New Bedford- President
# LASA- Luso American Soccer Association- President
# Portuguese-American Congress of New England- President
# Portuguese- Brazilian Center- Umass Dartmouth- Advisory Board
# Friends of the Casa da Saudade- President
# New Bedford Traffic Commission- Member
# City Property Committee- New Bedford- Member
# Ordinances Committee- New Bedford- Chairman
# City Council Audit Committee- New Bedford- Chairman
• Founded Neto Insurance of New Bedford (1973) and Fall River (1979)
• Owned and Operated WRCP 1290AM - Radio Clube Portugues in Providence, RI from 1987 to 1994.
• Admitted to Ford Motor Co. “500 Club” in 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1971.
• Married to Helen Rapoza since 1964.
• Father of Rosemary (1965), Fernando (1966) and Stephen (1968).
* Grandfather to Jenna (1996), Chloe (1999), Braley (2001), Samuel (2001) and Myles (2004)
• Recognized throughout the years by numerous Institutions and Community Organizations, such as:
# The President of Portugal, Mario Soares, in 1987 with the “Comenda de Ordem Benemerencia e Merito Civil.”
# Prince Henry Society- New Bedford Chapter, 1987 and the Massachusetts State Council, 1994.
# The University of Mass., Dartmouth- “PHI LAMBDA BETA”
# Camara Municipal da Horta, Faial, 1985 & 2008
# The Regional Government of the Azores.
# The New Bedford Standard Times “HATS OFF”
# The Azorean Times of Bristol R.I.
# The Portuguese Times of New Bedford.
# Acores- Madeira Radio Program of Fall River.
# The Governor of Massachusetts, Michael Dukakis.
# The Massachusetts Senate.
# The Massachusetts House of Representatives (twice).
# The Rhode Island State Treasurer.
# The Mayor of New Bedford. (twice).
# The Mayor of Fall River.
# The New Bedford City Council.
# The Dartmouth Board of Selectman.
# Grandes Festas do Espirito Santo da Nova Inglaterra.
# Fundação Faialense- (several times).
# Clube União Faialense- Honorary Member
# LASA (Luso American Soccer Assoc.) Honorary Member
# Monte-Pio Luso Americano- 100th Anniversary
# WRCP 1290 A.M. of Providence, R.I.- (twice)
# Ateneu Luso Americano of Fall River- (twice)

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