News

We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

Through the years the Kazickas Family Foundation supported publishing of history books, conferences for women journalists, youth missions to record stories of the deported and victims of the war, museum educational expositions on wars. Jurate Kazickas was a reporter who covered Vietnam. In remembrance of the Veterans, here are some excerpts from Jurate's piece "These Hills Called Khe Sanh" in "War Torn".

The Kazickas Family Foundation welcomed Ashley Gosnell, new ASISST's Director of Development, to discuss the cooperation, latest developments and updates. During the meeting she shared the experience from her recent trip to Lithuania to learn more about ASSIST's work there.

Kaunas Biennial organizes cultural and educational events every other fall. Kaunas Biennial and Kazickas Family Foundation are working together for the second year supporting its programs. 

"Neringa" Camp and its campers are thankful to Kazickas Family Foundation for its support. In 2013 KFF helped to replace roofs for 6 camper cabins as well as the "Art House." In 2014 and 2015 25 children each year got a chance to experience the camp because of KFF. In addition, it helped 3 more families to spend a week at "Neringa" during the family camp.

Emma and Karissa, two US Youth Ambassadors through ExCEL Abroad program supported by KFF, came to Lithuania last August where they will be spending the following school year. A month later they shared some of their experiences about living in a new culture, going to a new school and meeting different people.

ASSIST Lithuania applications process for the 2016/2017 School year begins for outstanding Lithuanian students currently in the 10th grade who would like to spend one year as exchange students in the finest American independent secondary schools as 11th graders (on one-year scholarship). Application deadline November 28, 2015. 

During the KFF meeting that took place September 23rd, it was decided to continue the Alexandra Kazickas Grant Program. Alexandra Kazickas was deeply committed to the preservation of a Lithuanian identity for young people growing up in the US. 

KFF's Neila Baumilienė, Kiki Kazickas and Jack Kazickas participated at the "American Councils" conference "Increasing Diversity, Expanding Geographies in International Education: Public-Private Partnerships for the Global Era".

During a working lunch on The Power of Basketball program Stage 2 (October 2015 – June 2016) for Lithuania, five Kazickas Family members met with Marty Conlon (formerly of NBA Cares, currently of the Avenues) who helped launch the program, and John Holm of CAF America. A plan to reach 600 most vulnarable children (from orphanages and high risk families) in rural areas of Lithuania was discussed.