News

Alexandra Kazickas Lithuanian School (Long Island, NY), KFF grantee since 2006, finishes its 9th school with 3 graduates and 31 sudents. Guest of Honor, Consul General of Lithuania to NY,  Julius Pranevicius presented the graduating class with honorary diplomas.

Photo courtesy of Snieguole Furajeviene

While continuing the KFF initiative to support Lithuanian language proficiency testing and certification in the Lithuanian Heritage schools of the US, the KFF NYC Director meets with the specialist in Boston, MA.

The Kazickas Family Foundation welcomed John Holm, senior director - business development of Charities Aid Foundation of America – Full Service Global Grantmaking, to discuss the Foundation's latest program "The Basketball Power". Thank you CAF America for your attention to Lithuania!

First ever, Lithuanian language proficiency level A2 exam for the youth in the U.S. conducted by Vilnius University on May 9th and 10th (a pilot project with the EU) is  a great outcome of the KFF three year long initiative to support Lithuanian language teaching, learning and evaluation outside Lithuania.  

KFF NYC office Director N.Baumiliene spent two days in Washington D.C. while learning, networking, promoting Lithuania and the Kazickas Family Foundation. So much to learn about the Philanthropy: purposeful giving, mechanisms of grantmaking, challenges, opportunities, IRS protocols, Anti-Money Laundering laws, ways to measure impact... 

Courtesy of CAF(Charities Aid Foundation of) America and Johns Hopkins University 

Washington D.C., dinner with Lithuanian Ambassador to the U.S and Mexico Zygimantas Pavilionis, Miriam Parel and Brooke Swafford, both of ExCEL, and Neila Baumiliene of the KFF NYC. Lithuanian youth was in the center of the conversations: finding ways to encourage volunteering, leadership, patriotism and civic duties. 

Lithuanian Embassy in Berlin, Germany, had an evening of "Wege Der Hoffnung"(German edition of the Odyssey of Hope) presentation. Lithuanian Ambassador Deividas Matulionis said: "The book portrays Joseph Kazickas's life which is a true reflection of Lithuania's life, its fight for freedom and independence". 

The Kazickas Family Foundation hosted U.S. Ambassador Anne E. Derse (Ret.) and Miriam Parel at the Kazickas residence during their recent visit to Lithuania February 22 to March 1. Ambassador Derse and Mrs. Parel returned from a follow-up trip on April 18.

Photo courtesy of ExCEL Abroad

Five members of the Kazickas Family participated in the Evening of Kindness - the Colorful BandAid Project initiated by Aiste Furajevaite of the A.Kazickas Lithuanian School. The event organized by the current students and former school's graduates supported Mamų unija/Mother's Union of Lithuania, a non-profit organization caring for children with cancer. 

In the Lithuanian Alliance of America, Ms. Lina Venskute, elementary school Lithuanian language teacher from Vilnius, Lithuania and a lecturer of Primary Education, conducted a workshop for 28 teachers from four Lithuanian Heritage Schools from New York and New Jersey (pictured).