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Our Story
Porto Charities Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that was started in March 2009 by members of Porto 104 of the International Order of Alhambra, a fraternal organization of Catholic men and women dedicated to assisting persons with disabilities.
From its inception in 2009, Porto Charities' mission has been to raise funds to provide grants to schools and organizations in Northern Virginia serving children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In its 1st decade, Porto Charities was able to award 1 million dollars in grants. In September 2020, Porto Charities initiated a new strategic plan to better serve the community by hiring a full-time Executive Director, and it recrafted its mission to also include advocacy programs and other initiatives to increase the opportunities available to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.
In September 2021 members of Porto 104 of the International Order of Alhambra voted to amend the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Porto Charities to become a mission-based organization instead of a membership-based organization, vesting the control of the operations of Porto Charities in the Board of Directors of Porto Charities, making it a completely independent organization. At the same time the Executive Board increased the Board of Directors from 8 to 16 in order to expand its mission.
In 2022, Porto Charities began a number of changes including expanding our programs, redesigning the structure of our organization and revamping our brand with a new logo and website in 2023.
Important Milestones
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2009
1998
Porto Charities introduces its new image which includes a new logo and website, along with new Employment and Education initiatives.
Porto Charities begins offering webinars to families, teachers, school administrators and advocates. It also organizes the 1st Catholic Conference on Disability in the Diocese of Arlington.
Members of Porto 104 of the International Order of Alhambra vote Porto Charities to become an independent organization.
The Board of Directors doubles its size.
Porto Charities hires its first full-time Executive Director. Porto Charities also modifies its mission and vision to better align with Porto Charities' current and future work.
Porto Charities reaches 1,000,000 in grants awarded to local schools and organizations since Porto's inception.
Porto Charities Inc. is created as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization by members of Porto 104 of the International Order of Alhambra, a fraternal organization of Catholic men and women dedicated to assisting persons with disabilities.
Paul VI Catholic High School becomes the 1st school in the Diocese serving students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This effort was started by parents including Leo Alonso, who has led Porto Charities since 2013.
