The third edition of the ‘Christmas with Gratitude’ mission was, without a doubt, our largest and most ambitious initiative to date—but it is also a farewell milestone for this format: this will be the final Christmas mission carried out on this scale and with this level of logistics,” said Mariana Pavão, founder of the Gratidão Club.

Impact on Four Institutions — This year, the Gratidão Club reached four institutions: the Lar da Mãe de Deus, the Casa do Gaiato, the Casa de Acolhimento de Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, and the Patronato de São Miguel.

The “Gratitude Van” — According to the founder, the organization received an overwhelming wave of donations—equivalent to two fully loaded transport vans—and delivered 108 personalized gifts to the children and young people supported by these institutions.

More Than Goods, Living Memories — Beyond material donations, the Gratidão Club created meaningful experiences that are still unfolding during the Christmas school holidays. These include visits to Blue Donkey Farm and Volcanic Beings; physical challenges at Arrifes Kickboxing Club and Azores Tree Top Park; training sessions with the Foot Training Academy; and moments of well-being through Neuza Yoga at Elevation Studio.

Logistical Support — In addition to all the initiatives described above, the Gratidão Club donated approximately €500 in small household appliances—ranging from air fryers to printers—to support the daily management needs of the institutions.

A New Path for the Gratidão Club
According to Mariana Pavão, “This record-breaking Christmas taught us that scale must never override feeling. To continue doing good with heart, we decided that the Gratidão Club will move toward more frequent, smaller campaigns throughout the year. This final mission closes a cycle of large-scale logistics. It opens space for a model in which we, too, can pause and fully absorb the spirit of gratitude in everything we do—ensuring that helping others remains a moment of joy for those who organize it.

We want to keep helping in proportion to what our hearts feel, making sure we never lose the magic of each individual action.

From Correio dos Açores, Natalino Vivieiros, director

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.