New Grants Support Educational Youth Camps in Rural Lithuania Funds raised in United States, a public-private partnership with the Ministry of Education

May 24, 2007

Contact: Linas J. Kojelis
Tel: 202-785-5056
E-mail: info@usbaltic.org

WASHINGTON, DC and ANYKSCIAI, LITHUANIA-  Linas Kojelis, Executive Director of the U.S.- Baltic Foundation (USBF), announced today the awarding of new grants totaling $52,000 (U.S.) to non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) in 10 rural regions of Lithuania. The funds were raised in the United States over the past year and will support educational activities at summer camps for young people in rural areas of the country. At a ceremony in Anyksciai, USBF Board member Jeff Nelson signed grant agreements with representatives of NGOs from the counties of Akmene, Alytus, Anyksciai, Marijampole, Moletai, Raseiniai, Skuodas, Ukmerge, Utena and Zarasai. With co-financing from the Ministry of Education, the groups will serve more than 2,700 children in these regions at 2-3 week summer programs, which will include daily meals, computer training, educational trips to historic sites and athletic programs.

During the meeting, Vygaudas Usackas, former Lithuanian ambassador to the U.S. and a founder of the Lithuanian Kaimas Fund (LKF), praised the many Lithuanian-Americans and other friends of Lithuania in the U.S. for their generosity in supporting the disadvantaged children in rural counties. He thanked USBF for serving as the administrator of the Kaimas fund for the last four years and helping over 5,000 young people through LKF.  The Ambassador noted that the American traditions of generosity and voluntarism are gaining root in Lithuania. He noted that, in cooperation with USBF, proceeds from the sale of his book last year raised over $20,000 (U.S.) to benefit the Kaimas fund in 2006.

It was also announced during the ceremony, that beginning this summer the Lithuanian American Community, Inc. (LAC) will assume responsibility for the administration and further development of the Kaimas fund in the U.S. LAC was represented at the ceremony by Rimas Gedeika, who shared greeting from the LAC Board of Directors and its Chairman Vytas Maciunas.

USBF (www.usbaltic.org) was founded in 1990 to support democratic and free market reforms in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Today the Foundation supports a range of educational and cultural activities in the Baltics and promotes awareness of the countries in the U.S. Each year, USBF hosts the premiere event for American friends of the Baltics, the American Baltic Celebration gala awards dinner in Washington, DC.   Guests of honor and recipients of the USBF Statesmanship Award have included Presidents Lennart Meri (Estonia), Vaira Vike-Freiberga (Latvia) and Valdas Adamkus (Lithuania).

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