The Power of Basketball in Lithuania
Program Summary
This grant was necessary to refurbish the basketball court built by the Kazickas Family Foundation in partnership with NBA Cares in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2006. The refurbishment of the court included the replacement of basketball stands and hoops, the restoration of the fence surrounding the court, and a complete refinishing and repainting of the court’s surface. KFF’s main focus in refurbishing the court is the continued promotion of fitness and overall physical and mental health for Lithuanian youth through The Power of Basketball initiative, launched in 2015. The Power of Basketball is a social responsibility program created by the Kazickas Family Foundation and conducted by Capital Basketball School (Sostines Krepsinio Mokykla) in Vilnius. The program provides underprivileged youth all over Lithuania with free basketball lessons and professional counseling on issues that negatively impact Lithuanian society. The refurbished court provides a safe space for at-risk and disabled youth to enjoy continued sport and fitness education in addition to access to information about issues such as alcoholism, bullying, and suicide.
Grant Impact
In 2015, CAF America made a grant of $5,000 to the Kazickas Family Foundation. The grant’s primary objective was to fund the refurbishment of a basketball court in Vilnius, Lithuania built in 2006 through a partnership between the Kazickas Family Foundation and NBA Cares. The grant enabled the installation of a new polyurethane surface, as well as new equipment fixtures and fencing. As of May 2015 the refurbishment is underway, in time for the scheduled summer launch of The Power of Basketball initiative. Once completed, the court will be open to the students of the adjacent public school and the public at large. The renovations and improvements will be supervised and maintained by both the Capital Basketball School (Sostines Krepsinio Mokykla) in Vilnius and the Kazickas Family Foundation. Countless Lithuanian children will enjoy the benefits bestowed by the completed court – a space that truly answers the UN’s call for ensuring the healthy lives and promoting the well-being of people of all ages.
Grantee Overview
The Kazickas family’s philanthropy is motivated by a wish to create a better world for both current and future generations of Lithuanians. The Kazickas Family Foundation has been operating in the United States since 1998 and opened its office in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1999. The Foundation’s main focus has been to provide support in the areas of education, arts, social welfare, technology, and medicine for Lithuanians living in both the U.S. and Lithuania.