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A Day of Fun in Vilnius for Alytus Children’s Home Kids

August 20, 2004

The charity and sponsorship fund "Vilties takas" [Path of Hope] and members of the American Embassy community will host 50 children from the Alytus Children’s Home for a day of fun and relaxation in Vilnius on 21 August 2004.  

The majority of the daylong activities are funded by a grant from the J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust and other private donations.  

About 20 volunteers from the American Embassy and “Vilties takas” will take the children to a museum, lunch and then for an afternoon of bowling.  The activities are designed to provide the children with an opportunity to see some of Vilnius, experience its rich cultural opportunities, and have some fun.  

Members of the “Vilties takas” along with several embassy employees have cultivated a wonderful relationship with many of the children from the Alytus home over the years.   

Previous projects have involved arranging individual Christmas gifts for each child and providing school supplies before they return to school in September.  Last year, the Simon Kirby Foundation funded an ice-skating day for the children.  

The Kirby Simon Trust is a charitable fund established in the memory of Kirby Simon, a former U.S. Foreign Service Officer.  

The “Vilties takas“ charity fund was established in 2000 and has been an active sponsor of various programs to assist the Alytus Children’s Home, as well as orphanages throughout Lithuania.