A new Executive Board is chosen
On
July 15, 2004 a new Executive President was selected and approved .
After seven years as Executive President Algis Vedeckas stepped down and
the new Executive President, Dr. Giedrė Kumpikas, was
selected. Dr. Kumpikas is the former President of the New York District
of the American-Lithuanian Community, a representative to the Executive
Board of the LAC, the founder and president of the sole Lithuanian
Radio program in N.Y. The new Executive Board consists of the following:
Raymond Slizys, Vladas
Sidas, Saulius Sirusas, Vida Penikas, Onute Adams and Vacys Steponis.
Independence Day Commemoration
On Sunday,
February 13, 2005 a joint committee of the Lithuanian National
Foundation, the American Lithuanian Community and the American
Lithuanian Council organized the commemoration of the 87th anniversary
of the restoration of the independence of Lithuania. The LNF was in
charge of this year's organization. Mass was celebrated at the Church of
the Annunciation in Brooklyn, the academic and cultural segment took
place at the Church of the Transfiguration in Maspeth. The opening
speech was given by the President of the LNF Dr. Giedre Kumpikas.
Congratulatory remarks were extended by Dr. Paul Michael Kazas who
presented State Senator Serphin Maltese. Kestutis Vaskelevicius, the
representative of the Ambassador of Lithuania, read an official
speech. The children of the Maironis Lithuanian school performed
Lithuanian folk dances and songs. Soprano Angele Kiausas and psaltery
player Rimgaudas Pranckevicius performed traditional Lithuanian songs
The host of the event was Miss Aleksandra Spencer. The closing
remarks were made by the President of the Lithuanian American Community
Ramute Zukas.
Principal donors of 2004
-
Zigmas and Marina Raulinaitis
of
New Jersey contributed $100,000 with gratitude to the
Lithuanian National Foundation for their excellent work and efforts
on behalf of Lithuanian education, culture and democracy.
Dr. James Hoeschle and Mrs. Audronė Vaitiekaitytė-Hoeschle of Michigan contributed $30,000 in support of the schools of Eastern Lithuania.
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Dr. Nijolė
Bražėnaite-Paronetto
of
New York contributed $25,000 to establish a program for the support
of projects for the education of special students in her "adopted"
school, named after her late husband, the Juozas Luksas Gymnasium in
Garliava.
Awards
-
On
the occasion of February 16th, Lithuanian Independence Day in 2005,
the Chairman of the Board of the Lithuanian national Foundation,
Jurgis Valaitis received the Order of the "Commander's Cross"
for his "Contribution to Lithuania".
-
On
June 25th, 2004, the Order of the "Officer's Cross" was awarded to
Kestutis Miklas, journalist and member of the Board of Directors
of the Lithuanian National Foundation, for his "Contribution to
Lithuania".
On July 6th, 2004, the President of the Lithuanian National Foundation, Dr.Giedre Kumpikas was awarded the Order "Knight's Cross" for her "Contribution to Lithuania".
On January 24th, 2001, the Honorary Chairman of the Board, Juozas Giedraitis, was awarded the "Officer's Cross" for his "Contribution to Lithuania".
On July 1st, 2000, the Chairman of the Charity Committee of the Lithuanian National Foundation, Dr. Rožė Šomkaitė, received the Order of the "Officer's Cross" for her "Contribution to Lithuania".