News

Six out of 25 Lithuanian Heritage schools, participating in AKGP 2014 program, received their checks during a Lithuanian Heritage School Converence in Boston, MA. The rest of the schools will receive their financial support once they meet AKGP request to have their schools registered with the CAL database, and will contribute to the KFF e-center for Lithuanian schools. 

During the Kazickas Family visits to Lithuania in September and October of 2014, talks were continued on the Adamkus Presidential Library Museum. 

Dr. J. P. Kazickas (1918-2014) was a Board Member of the Lithuanian Foundation (LF) for 13 years. In commemoration of his passing the Kazickas family asked for donations to be made to the Lithuanian Foundation. As of Oct. 1, 2014, the Foundation has received $10,200. For more information how Dr. Kazickas's legacy will live on through the memorial donations in his name to the LF please read LF website. 

Photo courtesy of Mantas Satkus: Dr. J. P. Kazickas (East Hamtpon, NY 2008)

Thanks to prof. Daina Litvinskaite of University of Illinois, nine representatives of the U.S. Lithuanian language schools participated in a networking conference for program administrators, teachers, parents, and researchers involved in community-based language programs and bilingual schools. 

American Ambassador to Lithuania (2009-2012) Anne E. Derse and Miriam Parel, Chief Strategy and Development Officer of the American Councils met with representatives of Lithuanian Heritage Schools (Washington DC, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York area) to discuss ExCEL . Peter Kazickas, the Kazickas Family member, and Liana Vazbiene, Political and Science Counsellor of the Embassy of Lithuania in U.S. were also at the meeting.

Peter Kazickas met with the members of the State Department and the Lithuanian Ambassador in the U.S. for "Power of Basketball" program in Lithuania to address social issues of suicide, alcoholism and social exclusion of physically and mentally disabled. 

The book "Odyssey of Hope"/ "Vilties kelias" will be published in Germany as “Wege der Hoffnung“. Foreward to "Wege der Hoffnung" by J.P.Kazickas  was written in March of 2014. "I think his willingness to include a personal note to potential readers says a lot about his character, his kindness, his true love of humanity" - his daughter Jurate Kazickas wrote. 

Boston Lithuanian School (BLS) celebrated its 65th School Year Anniversary. The BLS, one of 37 Lithuanian Heritage schools in the U.S., is among 25 schools supported by AKGP. The BLS is attended by 114 school age students and 6 adults who learn Lithuanian language, culture and history of Lithuania for four hours a Saturday, 33 Saturdays a year. Neila Baumiliene, the KFF NYC director, attended the ceremony and gave a congratulatory speech. 

Dr.Zygimantas Pavilionis, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the U.S. visited the KFF NYC office and brought guests from Lithuania, members of Lithuanian Youth organizations and the Parlament. During the meeting, mutual concerns about the current political situation in Lithuania due to the war in Ukraine were expressed. Special attention was paid to the KFF grants for Lithuanian youth organizations that support democracy, human values and national identity.