36 years ago, FLAD was created with a fundamental mission: to promote the connection between Portugal and the United States and, thus, to contribute to the development of Portugal.

There have been more than three decades of several projects and initiatives, but today we want to focus on the future. In promoting debate, in the development of the Portuguese and the Portuguese-Americans, in partnership with institutions on both sides of the Atlantic, focused on our four priority areas: Science, Education, Art and Culture and Transatlantic Relations.

Naturally, this pandemic is challenging for everyone. But in between adapting to working from home and zoom meetings, we have always remained active and with the same goal: to do more, to do better.

We continued to work on the programs that were already ongoing, we made sure that our grant holders didn’t miss the opportunities they deservedly earned, but we also launched new projects. This was the case of FLAD’s Science Awards – Mental Health and Atlantic –, of the exhibition of FLAD’s art collection Feast. Fury. Femina., FLAD’s program for book translations and the Atlantic Talks podcast.

We are also preparing new initiatives such as FLAD’s Drawing Award, the Visual Arts Course in the Arquipélago (in São Miguel), FLAD’s Science Award Junior, and the Summer Schools in the Azores in the most relevant technological areas for the region.

In these last few months, we also invested even more in social responsibility, aware of the difficulties in which so many live and the growing needs in this very difficult period. As a private foundation, we believe that FLAD has to be aware of the situation in Portugal and move forward to respond in circumstances like these. Thus, in 2020 we supported the Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome, Cáritas Azores, CASA in Porto, and scientific research linked to the fight against COVID-19.

This is a path that we will continue to take this year, because we believe in the importance of our intervention. We will support organizations from very different fields, with contributions ranging from clothing, food, and appliances to foster homes for children and young people, to a van to distribute food baskets, adopt a victim support room or assign driving licenses to merit students with financial needs. Very soon we will have news on the work of these organizations.

In addition to being on the side of the most vulnerable, it is also up to us to continue motivating young Portuguese students, artists, and scientists to go research and study in the USA. This pandemic imposed postponements, but our goals remain the same. Today, we are also better prepared to meet American students who want to come to Portugal to study through SiPN, and every day we strengthen our bond with the Portuguese-American community.

We are counting on you and, soon, we hope to be able to open the doors of the Foundation to receive you!

Rita Faden

FLAD’s President