News

Thirteen Representatives from seven Lithuanian Heritage schools of the US who participated in the Heritage language program conference at the American University 9/19/2015 in Washington D.C. met with H.E. Ambassador of Lithuania to the US Rolandas Kriščiūnas, Lyra Puišytė-Bostroem, Minister Counselor and Evelina Petronė, First Secretary.

KFF Grantee ALEXANDRA KAZICKAS LITHUANIAN SCHOOL'S (AKLS) STUDENTS FLEW KITES OF GRATITUDE IN REMEMBRANCE OF ITS FOUNDERS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE 10TH SCHOOL YEAR.
"I am thankful for being able to learn Lithuanian language and history", "Thank you to the Kazickas and teachers", "We love you, thank you for everything!",

On August 29, during the 3x3 Basketball Tournament, organized by the Capital Basketball School (SKM, Vilnius, Lithuania) on the newly renovated KFF-NBA court (Šeškinė, Vilnius,LT), the BE GOOD team competed for their deceased friend.

In fight against human trafficking within/across/from Lithuania and in order to expand array of conversations with ”The Power of Basketball” program’s vulnerable children, the director of the KFF NYC bureau met with organizations working in the field of human trafficking prevention. 

The Blessed Michal Sopocko Hospice, one of the KFF 2014 grantees, was founded in Vilnius in 2009 by the Sisters of Merciful Jesus invited by the Cardinal of the Lithuanian RCC Audrys J. Bačkis from Poland to Lithuania. Renovated and opened in 2012 the facility became the first Hospice in Lithuania. 

For over a month, the newly renovated basketball court in Šeškinė district (Vilnius, Lithuania) has been in full swing. Cheers, claps, and basketball dribbling sounds are heard throughout the day. Sometimes they are interrupted by a coach’s whistle. On June 14, a day long court opening ceremony marked the end of the pilot social responsibility program named "The Power of Basketball".

ExCEL Abroad - is a student exchange program supported by KFF. It provides the opportunity for students from US schools to study in Lithuania for a year.

Emma ir Karissa, left for Lithuania last summer, where they will spend the following school year through the ExCEL Abroad initiative.

Prof. Rimantas Kėvalas (Head of the Childen’s Clinic at Kaunas University Hospital of Health Sciences) e-mail after Today's meeting on Dr. & Mrs. Kazickas's legacy in Kaunas Hospital: ”I had an honor to get to know Dr. Joseph & Mrs. Alexandra Kazickas ten years ago. They used to come to the Children’s Clinic. Their daughter Jurate Kazickas came here as well. 

In June, while in Lithuania, Marcie, John, Alex, Augustine and Peter Kazickas, visited Santariškės Hospital in Vilnius. For almost a year, Marcie and John have been working with Eglė Melinauskienė, head of the Mothers Union, in helping sick children in the Children Oncology Department.  

„Renkuosi mokyti!“ – “Teach for Lithuania” attracts educated, active, creative and motivated young people to become teachers. The program is one of 36 Teach for All network partners worldwide. Its mission is to help each child learn, especially those in rural or semi-rural communities where children have fewer educational opportunities and score lower on academic measures.