News

The Kazickas Family Foundation congratulates Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Congregation that is turning 100 this year and is excited to contribute to Sisters' work. Special friendship between Jurate Kazickas and Sister Igne Marijosiute started years ago at the camp in Putnam and continues even today.

During their trip to Lithuania, Jurate, Lucy and Augustine Kazickas visited Pumpenai school. KFF program's "Youth Can" director Arminas Vareika is a former school's student and today he brings not just the Kazickas family and programs to keep Pumpenai children active and involved, but his heart and soul to his community that raised and nurtured him.

Marking the Kazickas Family Foundation's 20th anniversary this year, last Tuesday, November 6th, Jurate Kazickas invited representatives from various Lithuanian NGOs to the conference "Philanthropy in Lithuania: Practice and Advise to the NGOs" at the M. Mazvydas National Library.

Everyone is cordially invited to the opening of a special exhibit "The Life of Joseph Peter Kazickas" in Pasvalys. Exhibit about Petras Vileisis gymnasium graduate, philanthropist, patriot and businessmen will be introduced on November 7th at 3pm by dr. J. P. Kazickas' daughter Jurate Kazickas.

KFF program YOUTH CAN invited all to the first event of the season at the Kedainiai Sports Center. Over 300 program's students from various Lithuanian towns and villages showed off their basketball skills they've been practicing for the last two months.

On Sunday before the All Souls Day, Lucy, Joe and Augie Kazickas with a small group of Alexandra Kazickas Lithuanian school children and parents visited the final resting place of dr. Joseph Kazickas, his wife Alexandra and their son Alexander at the East Hampton cemetery.

KFF NYC office director Neila Baumiliene met with four Lithuanian Emergency Medicine Residents who are currently acquiring knowledge and experience from world's top Emergency Medicine specialists at the University of Cincinnati and Tri Health Good Samaritan Hospital.

Last Saturday Gediminas Lithuanian School turned 16! Schools students and parents celebrated it with a quiz competition "100 Years - 100 Facts." School's students proved to their parents that they attend school for a reason and proudly shared their knowledge about Lithuania. 

ASSIST, program that creates life-changing opportunities for outstanding international scholars to learn from and contribute to the finest American independent schools is turning 50! Program's founders, patrons, board members, supporters, alumni, current students and guests gathered in Washington, DC to celebrate 50 years of building bridges.

About 10 years ago, KFF made a grant to the University of Washington Baltic Studies department. That gift has now resulted in an endowed professorship that has made it possible for the UW to establish a permanent faculty position devoted to research and teaching about Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. We recently received a report, excerpted below,  from Guntis Šmidchens the Kazickas Family Endowed Professor in Baltic Studies,  on his research and program initiatives.