Lithuanian Foundation Celebrated Its Diamond Anniversary
The Lithuanian Foundation (LF) Diamond Anniversary Gala was the highlight of the organization’s 60th jubilee year. On November 5, 2022, guests of all ages, from students to seniors, from 10 states and even Lithuania, gathered in the festively decorated Banys Family Hall at the Lithuanian World Center. These are the people associated with the Lithuanian Foundation, whose work in support of Lithuania has surpassed the boldest plans of its founders.
The guests’ attention was attracted by the beautifully decorated stage of the photography exhibition telling the history of the Foundation, and the flowers on the tables.
The evening was opened by the hostess of the ceremony, LF Scholarship recipient Gabrielė Bieliauskaitė. After welcoming the guests, she briefly explained the LF’s history, cheered the blossoming of the Foundation in recent years, and thanked donors, sponsors, founders of donor-designated funds, and legatees for their generosity.
Tauras Bublys, Chairman of the Board of the Lithuanian Foundation, addressed the evening’s guests. Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the United States of America and the United Mexican States Audra Plepytė spoke a word of greetings and wished the Foundation a favorable wind and new heights.
President of the National Executive Committee of the Lithuanian American Community Arvydas Urbonavičius greeted the guests, and the invocation was read by the director of the Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis mission, Father Vaidas Lukoševičius SJ.
Gala guests were treated to a concert by the Lithuanian group “IL SENSO” (sopranos Ieva Barbora Juozapaitytė, Indrė Anankaitė and tenors Laimonas Bendaravičius and Kasparas Damulis). The charismatic singers impressed the attendees with their excellent singing and delightful communication.
LF President Audronė Pavilčius-Karalius thanked the large gathering (334 guests attended the gala). At her invitation and after the singers sang “Pakelkim, pakelkim mes taurę linksmybių”, glasses were raised to the future of the LF, and a huge celebratory cake – a šakotis – was brought to the hall.
At the end of the musical program, the guests took part in a raffle and enjoyed the dinner by “Kunigaikščių užeiga”. The DJ Eugenijus Dicevičius invited everyone to a dance circle, and the photographer Laimis Urbonas (Laimis Urbonas Photography) captured the moments of the gala in photos.
The LF Board of Directors and Executive Committee would like to express their sincere thanks to the sponsors of the gala – GP Transco, Boodell & Domanskis, LLC, and Lina Embroidery. Sincere gratitude goes out to all those who contributed to the wonderful atmosphere of the evening: the LF Executive Committee, the administrative staff, coordinator Sigita Jasudas and her great team, the emcee Gabrielė Bieliauskaitė, the lighting and sound engineer Žygintas Januškevičius, and Arūnas Klibas and WR TYPE Inc. for preparing the exhibition.
The celebration is over. We believe that its impressions will remain in people’s memories for a long time to come, and the LF, having celebrated its beautiful anniversary, will continue working to ensure that Lithuanian identity flourishes and is passed on to future generations.
