Press Release from October 21, 2006

By Auksuciai Foundation

Rotary International
Lends a Helping Hand

Rotary International is helping small limited resource farmers in rural Lithuania become competitive in today’s economy. In early September, Vytautas Sliupas, President of the Auksuciai Foundation, USA, presented a Matching Grants check in the amount of $13,516 to the Siauliai Rotary Club. On hand to accept the check was Prof.Vincas Laurutis, Rector of Siauliai University and immediate past president of the Siauliai Rotary Club. Contributors to the matching funds were the Rotary Clubs of Burlingame, Millbrae, Daly City/ Coloma, California, Siauliai Lithuania Club, California Rotary District 5150 and the Rotary Foundation, Evanston, Illinois.

This money will be used by the Auksuciai Farm and Forest Center in Northern Lithuania under the direction of Center Director, Larry Clement. The Center has a 57hectares (389acre) farm which conducts a year long program of research on new crops, improvement of existing crops and improved farming practices. The farm is operated under a master lease agreement with the Auksuciai Foundation, USA. All information is available at no charge to local farmers and other interested individuals. The Rotary money will be used for purchase of small equipment needed in taking care of the agricultural research plots. Use of the funds will be monitored by the Siauliai Rotary.

In July of this year, some 130 individuals from Lithuania, Germany, Denmark, Colombia and the USA were on hand for the dedication of the Jurgas Gudaitis Auksuciai Farm and Forest Center Building. Vytas Sliupas, President of the Auksuciai Foundation told the participants “This building will soon become a regional center of activities, seminars and events related to improving the life of local Lithuanian farmers and their rural communities.”

Sliupas, a long time leader in the Rotary community, said “He is pleased to see Rotary International play a role in supporting the Center’s effort to improve the life of Lithuanian farmers.” He noted that the Auksuciai Foundation supported project is the only American based, privately funded, nongovernmental organization working toward improving farmer livelihood in rural Lithuania. The Auksuciai Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation headquartered at Burlingame, Ca.
 

Shown are Prof.Vincas Laurutis, Rector of Siauliai University and immediate past-president of the Siauliai Rotary Club accepting the Matching Grants check from Vytautas Sliupas of Millbrae, CA Rotary Club on September 25, 2006.

Posted October 21, 2006 by: The Auksuciai Foundation (USA),
2907 Frontera Way,
Burlingame, CA 94010 USA

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