Support Given by the Lithuanian Foundation Has Exceeded $18 Million
The founders of the Lithuanian Foundation likely could not have imagined how important the organization would become. It is hard to believe – through the 53 years, the Foundation has provided support for Lithuanian activities and scholarships to the sum of $18 million to implement its goal – fostering Lithuanian cultural activities, supporting scholarships – comes from preserving the contributions of the members and distributing the earning from the invested capital. In 2015 LF provided $758,575 in grant and scholarship support.
The LF Board appoints the Grants Committee and the Scholarship Subcommittee. The Grants Committee is equally composed of three members of LF and three members of the Lithuanian American Council. The committee meet to evaluate the grant and scholarship requests. The distributions are made in compliance to the Internal Revenue Code for 501(c) (3) organizations and according to the published distribution priorities and guidelines. The awards are approved by the LF Board and published on the LF website.
2015 LF Grants Committee (from the left): Juozas Kapacinskas, Dalia Anysas, Arvydas Tamulis, Ina Stankeviciene, Virgus Volertas, Nerija Orentas, Vytas Narutis (Grants Committee Chair) ir Dalius Vasys. (Photo: LF archive).
The 2015 Grants Committee meeting was held May 17 at the Lithuanian World Center in Lemont, IL. This year there were 130 grant requests all totaling $1,241,718. After thorough evaluation the Committee voted to support 81 (62%) of grant requests for a total sum $538,622 (43%). The Lithuanian American Council was granted $302,996, representing 56% of all grants awarded. Other US organizations received $184,486. Organizations in other countries were granted $18,740. Requests from Lithuania were granted $23,400. The World Lithuanian Community was granted $9,000. As usual, the largest amount, $172,746, went for education followed by $168,176 for cultural activities. Support for youth organizations was $88,800, public affairs support was $72,800. Lithuanian publications were granted $36,100.
The 2015 Grants Committee meeting was held May 17 at the Lithuanian World Center in Lemont, IL
Additionally 14,986 was distributed from donor directed funds according to the donor’s designation.
We present the projects which received the largest support through grants:
- The Lithuanian-American Community Education Council was granted $135,196 of which $110,000 was slated for support of Lithuanian heritage schools. (In 2014 the support for schools was $90,000.)
- The X Lithuanian Song Festival was granted $30,000 during this year’s distribution. (Along with previous grants, that adds up to a total $50,000 for the Song Festival.)
- $30,000 was granted for internships in Lithuania. (2014 – $20,000).
- The Lithuanian Research and Studies Center in Chicago was granted $22,000.
- The upcoming XV Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival in Baltimore MD was granted $20,000.
- The Ethnographic Region Festival, World Lithuanian Center in Lemont, IL, Rakas Camp in Custer MI, each received $15,000.
- $11,000 was granted to the Dainava Camp, Manchester MI.
- $10,000 to Neringa Camp, Brattleboro, Vt.
The complete list of awards can be found in the publication Liepsna.
The Scholarship Sub-Committee met on November 21, 2015 at the World Lithuanian Center (Lemont, IL) to evaluate the 121 scholarship applications. The Sub-Committee decided to support 71 requests (59%). The total requested amount was $547,533 while the awarded scholarships were $170,000 (31%). 44 students are going for a bachelor’s degree, 18 – master, 9 – doctorates. The student enrollment is: US – 11, Canada – 1, Europe – 11, Lithuania – 5. 18 students are in medical fields, biology or chemistry – 8, art – 9, architecture – 4. The list of 2015 LF scholarship recipients is listed here.
2015 Lithuanian Scholarship Sub-Committee ( from left): Jonas Grazys, Darius Sabaliunas, Lilija Gelazis, Ieva Dilyte, Albertas Tuskenis, Alina Akulic, Tauras Bublys (LF Scholarship Sub-Committe Chair) and Agne Vertelkaite. Not picured: Kestutis Nakas, Sigita Baniulis and Vesta Valuckaite. (Photo: LF archive)
In addition another $34,967 was granted for scholarships from special funds. In these donors directed funds the donors may specify various conditions like the area of study, certain kinds of students, etc.
We are grateful to all Grant Committee members for their effort and dedication. We also thank the administrative staff of LF for their great help in organizing the requests and support of the review process. Finally we thank our donors without whose generosity we not able to support Lithuanian activities and scholarships.
Vytautas Narutis
Grants Committee Chairman
In the picture on the top the page: X North American Lithuanian Song Festival in Chicago (Photo: Daina Cyvas)
