An Honorable Award at the Lithuanian Foundation Gala

On Saturday evening, November 2, 2019, LF members and donors, as well as diplomatic corps representatives, gathered for the annual Lithuanian Foundation gala. A large group of young people came to the banquet, including representatives of the World Lithuanian Youth Association, participants of the North American Lithuanian Youth Congress, former and current LF scholarship recipients. Miglė Rupšaitė, an LF fellow and student at Loyola University Chicago, was entrusted to emcee the gala. The hall was beautifully decorated with flower arrangements by Evelina Karalienė, and a small gift awaited each guest on the tables – a sweet with LF logo, prepared by “Bake for Me!”

Audronė Pavilčius-Karalius, Chairperson of the LF Board, kicked off the event, thanking all attendees for their support to the Lithuanian Foundation and wishing them an enjoyable evening, after briefly describing LF’s activities and aspirations.

Rolandas Kriščiūnas, the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the United States of America and Mexico, Mantvydas Bekešius, Consul General of the Republic of Lithuania in Chicago, Arvydas Urbonavičius, President of the National Executive Committee of the Lithuanian American Community, and Vladas Oleinikovas, Chairman of the Board of the World Lithuanian Youth Association, offered greeting remarks to the participants. Among the gala attendees were Honorary Consuls of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Bublienė and Jonas Prunskis, President of the US Lithuanian Youth Association Rima Žiūraitis, Vice President of the U.S. Lithuanian Youth Association Jonas Howes, and other honorable guests.

Guests applauded the awarding of a member of the LF Board, former President and the Chairman of the LF Board, Marius Kasniūnas with receiving the “Lithuanian Diplomacy Star”, a badge of honor from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, which was presented by Ambassador Rolandas Kriščiūnas

LF President Tauras Bublys raised a toast, thanking the many gathered guests (365 in total) and wished the Lithuanian Foundation a long life.

After a delicious dinner, prepared by “Grand Dukes Restaurant,” the guests enjoyed a concert by the female vocal trio “The Peppermint Patties” (LF scholarship recipient Daina Fischer, Anna Caldwell, and Laura Smalley), to the accompaniment of Martynas Matutis. The audience was particularly pleased with the songs performed by the young Americans in Lithuanian. “Death of the Partisan,” a song by Faustas Strolia (words by Leonard Žitkevičius), was received with intense applause and a standing ovation.

Another surprise awaited the participants: LF scholarship recipient Monika Plioplytė donated her artwork “I for Nested Pattern,” which could be won during the lottery. The lucky winner was Irma Bliukienė, Treasurer of the Lithuanian Cultural School of Chicago.

The guests did not disperse for a long time that evening, as DJ Eugenijus Dicevičius invited them to dance, and photographer Sandra Scedrina (Studiolight.us) captured the moments of the banquet in photos.

 

Picture at the top of the page: Marius Kasniūnas is being awarded with “Lithuanian Diplomacy Star”, a badge of honor from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, presented by Ambassador Rolandas Kriščiūnas.

 

Photo: Sandra Scedrina.