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Jurbarkas regional newspaper "Šviesa" shares few moments from the evening:

The Kazickas Family Foundation was established in 1998 in New York and in 1999 in Lithuania. Its founder was a Lithuanian and American citizen, Pasvalys region honorary citizen, honorary doctorate of Kaunas University of Technology, Yale University Ph. D. in Economics, entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Joseph P. Kazickas.

The Kazickas Family Foundation gave Jurbarkas library dr. Joseph Kazickas autobiography “Odyssey of Hope” where readers can find Joseph and his wife Alexanda Kazickas sharing their life story together. On this occasion in January library announced the letter writing contest “To My Friend Who Left”. Jurbarkas region schools students, attendants of informal educational institutions and entire Jurbarkas community.

Main goal of such contest – to develop creativity, ability to share your thoughts in writing, to encourage to keep in touch with your loved ones living far away and to remind everyone of the benefits of writing and reading a handwritten letter. Contest also aimed to inspire the audience to follow the example of dr. Joseph Kazickas’ love for his Homeland Lithuania.

Women’s vocal ensemble “Vetrunge” and Toma Butkute from Erzvilkas performed during the exhibit opening. KFF Vilnius office director Agne Vertelkaite introduced guests to dr. Joseph P. Kazickas’ main life aspects that influenced the start of the Kazickas Family Foundation. Its work reflects dr. Kazickas ambition to preserve Lithuanian values through the generations. A. Vertelkaite also shared the letter sent by foundation’s president Jurate Kazickaite.

In her letter Jurate Kazickas shared:

It was in 2017,  after both our parents were deceased, that we discovered  a cache of more than 100 letters that our father Joseph Peter Kazickas (1918-2014) wrote to our mother,  Alexandra Kalvenas Kazickas (1920-2011), carefully stored in boxes in our family home. These treasures, personal and intimate, were written in impeccable Lithuanian from 1944 until 2009 when they already lived outside Lithuania.

Most were written when Joseph was travelling around the world for business. He wanted to make sure that his wife and five children felt his presence and knew how much he loved them and missed them. Through handwritten letters our father communicated his committment and devotion  to his wife, children, relatives and Lithuanian friends; preserved his values, stories, insights and musings; shared wonderful discoveries of the world and his philosophy of life; linked his children and grandchildren to their heritage and inspired them; expressed his gratitude to God, to his parents, and especially to his wife of 70 years in the most sincere and poetic language, full of detail and color.

While honoring our parents love and committment to each other, our family, and Lithuania, we hope to inspire you to celebrate life, always give thanks, and write to your loved ones. We hope you will keep creating the magic with the handwritten letters.

We are forever grateful for your committment to keep your bonds with your family, friends and Lithuanians accross the World.“

Letter writing committee selected the winning letters according to contest criteria. All 68 participants received the Letters of Gratitude, the winners were presented with the tablets.

It wasn’t an easy work for the committee. Each letter had its own story. The authors shared that it was a challenge to go back to handwriting skills, but it brought them back to times when that was the only communication form of long distance relationship. Letters were filled with the longing, wish to be closer, depicting the landscapes of authors’ home towns, news from the local places.

The winner in the grade 4-6 category was Faustas Paliskis, grade 7-8 winner was Vilte Strikaite, grade 9-12 - Agne Bartuseviciute, and category 19+ winner was Aldona Palavinskiene.

The oldest participant, 91 year old former teacher Genute Akutaitiene was awarded with a special Award of Gratitude. The winner of the most original letter, using the pseudonym „Senelis“, was Jurbarkas library children librarian Lina Maziliauskiene.

Committee member Elena Elzbergiene found a lot of love, affection, memories and invitations to return home in the letters.

The letter writing contest proved that handwriting is still alive and e-mails haven’t replaced the tradition to scribble down your thoughts on a sheet of paper instead of using the keyboard.

Exhibit „Dr. Joseph P. Kazickas’ Life Story“ at the Jurbarkas Public Library will be open till April 12, 2019.

Library hours Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm.

Original text in Lithuanian  „ŠVIESA“

Interpretation: KFF

Photos: A. Sinkus