The Ateitis Fund is pleased to announce a €100,000 donation from historian and public figure Saulius Girnius. This contribution establishes the Girnius Family Sub-fund, which will operate as an endowment: by preserving and growing the principal capital, the investment returns will be used to support high school Ateitininkai activities.
Juozas Girnius with his sons in 1948. (Photo from the personal archive of K. Girnius)The Girnius family name is synonymous with loyalty to ideals and consistent service to Lithuania. This new sub-fund is a clear sign of confidence in the younger generation. The support will empower today’s students to grow and, in the future, take responsibility for society and the state. We invite Ateitininkai and their friends who wish to contribute to this noble cause to donate to the new sub-fund (even small contributions are significant):
Beneficiary: Labdaros ir Paramos Fondas „Ateitininkų Fondas”
Account Number (IBAN): LT87 7300 0100 9940 3217
Payment Reference: Donation to the Girnius Family Sub-fund
The investment returns from the Girnius Family Sub-fund will be dedicated to high school activities, including local chapters (kuopos), youth development initiatives, and other programs that strengthen community, skills, and responsibility. The goal is to ensure that Ateitininkai activities remain stable and continuous for generations to come.
The Girnius family’s contribution to the movement is extensive. Saulius Girnius was born and earned his PhD in History in the USA, later working in Germany and the Czech Republic. Since 1997, he has lived in Lithuania and is an active member and supporter of the Vilnius region Ateitininkai. His father, Juozas Girnius, served as the President of the Ateitis Federation from 1963 to 1967. In 1966, he published the influential book Ideal and Time, which explored contemporary challenges for Lithuanian Catholics and the diaspora, specifically focusing on how ideals intersect with modern reality.
The traditions of the Girnius family—active participation in public, academic, and cultural life—continue to shape the movement’s thought and action. This sub-fund aims to empower the young generation who will build and protect the state of Lithuania in the future.
The Ateitis Federation unites thousands of young people across Lithuania, the USA, Ireland, and beyond. With dozens of student chapters, corporations, and clubs, the organization fosters individuals of sensitive heart, strong will, and bright mind, guided by a Catholic worldview.
