It all started with a handful of Portuguese women, some good food, and a lot of dancing—and now it’s an annual celebration that’s hard to miss!
We’re talking about the Amigas Gala, held every February in Cambridge that brings together women in the Cambridge to celebrate the Portuguese tradition, Dia das Amigas— a day filled with laughter, music, delicious food, and of course, lots of fun and dancing with friends to celebrate friendship and womanhood.
“The idea for the Gala came from wanting to bring a popular Portuguese tradition from home to Canada and celebrate our friendships,” said Maria Cabral, one of the founding members of the Amigas Foundation who recently visited the Hospital with her troupe.
Founded more than 15 years ago, the event was originally intended to bring people together, make new connections, and enjoy each other’s company. But what happens when a group of strong, community-oriented women gather? They find ways to share their positivity with the world, often with a little wine in hand.
“After meeting for a few years, we decided to do more with the event. All of us just wanted to give back to the Community,” she added.
With this mission to help others in mind, the pioneering Amigas of Cambridge— Maria, Estefania, Graciete, Adelina, Eduarda, Joana, and Fatima— started the annual tradition in 2010 to raise funds for Cambridge Memorial Hospital. To date, the event has raised an impressive $200,000.
“We remember raising $5,000 at the first Gala,” said another Amigas member as they presented the latest cheque for $30,000 raised at the 2025 event.
Sue Machado, who has now taken the reigns of this event, shared why the group has supported CMH for so long. “We all use the Hospital services; our lives depend on having a strong Hospital.”
“We’ve experienced both good and bad days here, so when we decided to give back, the Hospital was our choice. As we grow, we continue to support CMH, while spreading some of the proceeds to other local organizations who also have a big impact.”
The 2025 Amigas Gala took place on Saturday, February 22, at the Oriental Sport Club, drawing over 300 women in Cambridge. The evening featured great music, food, and plenty of dancing.
CMH Foundation is extremely grateful to have the Amigas Foundation’s longstanding support. It is so exciting to see all these multi-generational women raising funds for their local Hospital and helping us keep care close to home.
A big thank you to all the donors and sponsors for making this event happen, year over year— bringing not just funds but also connecting so many powerful women in the Community.
