Ramona Stephens-Zemaitis

2006 LF Grant Committee Chair

Every fall the Lithuanian Foundation announces the fruit of its spring and summer labor: the distribution of its annual income in grants and scholarships.

The allocation process is increasingly demanding. This year the Foundation’s Board authorized a distribution not to exceed $500,000—almost the same amount requested by 103 student applicants in scholarships alone. The Grants Committee considered an additional 181 grant requests totaling nearly $5 million. After thorough review and candid deliberations, the Committee recommended that 125 grant and 71 scholarship applications be satisfi ed in part, in the amount of $497,936.

I am grateful to my colleagues on the committees for contributing their time and abilities toward accomplishing this, LF’s primary objective. The 2006 LF Grant Committee consisted of LF delegates Jurate Budrys, Saulius Cyvas, Vytenis Kirvelaitis, Ramona Stephens-Zemaitis (chair) and Alexander R. Domanskis (alternate); and Lithuanian American Community delegates Ona Daugirdas, Almis Kuolas, Marius Laniauskas and Mindaugas Bielskus (alternate). The Scholarship Subcommittee, chaired by Tadas Kulbis, included Svajus Asadauskas, Jurate Budrys, Juozas Polikaitis, Laura Ruksenas and Andrius Tamulis. My sincere thanks to LF Administrator Laima Petroliunas and Grants Coordinator Zivile Ramasauskiene for their tireless organizational efforts.

Finally, on behalf of the Lithuanian Foundation, I extend a heartfelt ačiū to you, our generousmembers, whose abiding support makes the preservation and perpetuation of Lithuanian culture possible.

Sincerely,

Ramona Stephens-Zemaitis

2006 LF Grant Committee Chair