The Lithuanian Foundation receives “Global Lithuanian Award – 2017
On Thursday, December 28, 2017 guests and laureates gathered at the Vilnius Town Hall for the sixth annual Global Lithuanian Leaders Award ceremony. This year 33 nominees, across 9 various categories, from 8 different countries were presented during the 2017 award ceremony. President Dalia Grybauskaitė, the patron of the awards, bestowed laureates with statues, made exclusively by sculptor Stasys Žirgulis, representing the ideals of strength and integration. The Lifetime Achievement Award, selected by Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was awarded to the Lithuanian Foundation. In presenting the award, Linas Linkevičius, the Republic of Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, highlighted the fact that, “since its inception in 1962, the Lithuanian Foundation has advanced its goals by awarding $20 million in grants and scholarships to support the preservation of the Lithuanian language and culture. This includes a special, one-time capital fund disbursement in 1992 of more than a million dollars of aid to Lithuania’s educational and cultural institutions.” This award is special in that recognizes the contributions made by the Foundation’s founders, its generous donors and members, as well the volunteers that have worked tirelessly for the Foundation over the years. The award was accepted, on behalf of the Foundation, by Board Members Vytas Narutis and Agnė Vertelkaitė, as well as Leonas Narbutis of the Executive Committee.
