2010 U.S.- Baltic Gala
Awards
Baltic Statesmanship Award
Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius, Republic of Lithuania
Born on December 8, 1956, Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius graduated from Vilnius State University, Faculty of Physics in 1979. In 1988, Kubilius became a member of Sajudis, the Reform Movement of Lithuania, and in 1990 he served for two years as the Executive Secretary of Sajudis. Kubilius joined the Seimas [Parliament of Lithuania] in 1992 and became its First Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs in 1996. In 1999, Kubilius became the Prime Minister of the 10th Government of Lithuania. He has since served in many positions in the Seimas, before once again returning to the post of Prime Minister on November 28, 2008. Kubilius has been awarded for his merits for the State of Lithuania with the Independence Medal of Lithuania and Commander’s Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas. The Prime Minister is fluent in English and Russian, and is a classical music fan.
Baltic Image Enhancement Award
Arvo Pärt
Arvo Pärt was born September 11, 1935 in Paide, Estonia, and is an internationally renowned classical composer His music is composed in a minimalist style employing a self-made technique described as tintinnabuli, that is, similar to the ringing of bells. While his early works feature a Neo-Classical style his later and most famous compositions have been shaped by influences of Gregorian Chant and Sacred Polyphony. In 2008 Part was honored as the Featured Composer at the RTE Living Music Festival in Dublin. His most recent work, Symphony No. 4 “Los Angeles,” is his first symphony in over 37 years, and was premiered in Los Angeles, California on January 10, 2009. The Foundation is recognizing Mr. Pärt for his outstanding contributions to Estonian culture.
Humanitarian Award
Sisters of St. Casimir
Sisters of St. Casimir, a religious community of women founded in 1907, in Scranton, PA by Mother Maria Kaupas. Mother Maria Kaupas desired to found a congregation which would sustain and nourish the faith life of the early Lithuanian immigrants in the U.S. She encouraged her Sisters to do the same and then to "welcome" and care for all others who would become part of their lives.
In 1991, the Sisters of St. Casimir in Chicago, were quick to respond the spiritual and material needs of their counter parts in Lithuania, the Lithuanian Sisters of St. Casimir as they began to emerge into a whole new way of living as religious women. Today the Sister’s work continues as they care for the sick, the aging and others who are hurting
Corporate Citizen Award
Vichiunai Group of Companies
Vichiunai Group was established in 1991 on the part of Visvaldas Matijošaitis and Liudas Skierus. Rapid expansion of sales and growth of business has now lead to operating 6 production factories in Lithuania, Russia and Estonia. Currently, the group is comprised of 35 companies with diversified business portfolios including: food production, sales and distribution, logistics, food service and restaurants, dealership for Global moto-brands. In 2005 Vichiunai co-founded NGO Mentor Lithuania which is a member of Global Mentor Associacion.
Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Ilja Laurs, CEO and Founder, Getjar
Born in 1976 in Lithuania, Mr. Laurs has been an entrepreneur since 1999, and has since launched over 20 successful projects including: LithuanianHotels.com, MicroPay.lt and mobile games studio Gaxo Interactive. In 2009, Informa Telecoms & Media included Ilja in the Top 40 most influential people in mobile communications. He is a first Lithuanian to make such a list. GetJar is the world’s largest cross platform app store with over a half billion downloads to date. GetJar also works with a select number of distribution partners including but not limited to Sony Ericsson, Sprint, Opera, Vodafone, 3UK and Virgin Mobile. In June of 2009, GetJar was named winner of the 2009 Meffy Award for Best Direct to Consumer Service.
American Corporate Citizenship Award*
Computer Sciences Corporation
Computer Sciences Corporation was founded in April 1959 by Roy Nutt and Fletcher Jones providing technical services ranging from weather observation to radar maintenance for all NASA’s manned and unmanned spacecrafts. Today, CSC is a world-leading IT services company employing some 90,000 people in more than 80 countries. CSC Baltic, a subsidiary of the U.S. information technology solutions and consulting company CSC, launched operations in Lithuania in 2008. In 2009 CSC, in conjunction with Save the Children, began an active campaign to promote the well being of the children at the Prabade Children’s Home in Lithuania as well as a blood drive in collaboration with the National Blood Center.
* Invited