About R.Kaukenas foundation
“Rimantas Kaukenas Charitable Foundation” is a charity and support foundation that has been operating throughout Lithuania for 10 years and provides hope, strength and joy to children with oncological diseases. We have one simple goal – to ease the burden of children with life-threatening diseases and their families: to help them survive the trauma of a serious diagnosis, a long journey of healing and to fill children’s lives with light! Thanks to education, awareness, careful analysis and transparent public statements, we are proud to be one of the most effective foundations in Europe, and maybe even in the world, and probably the only one that does not take commissions from intended donations.
We've funded 75k dollars
About us
We provide assistance to seriously ill children and their families, provide them with the necessary medical equipment, non-compensated medications and various vitamins, implement important treatments/rehabilitations/operations abroad and in Lithuania and fulfill children’s most secret dreams! In an effort to brighten the lives of sick children, we visit them in hospitals and at home and organize meetings for children with famous athletes, singers, actors and other well-known people in society. We also renovate hospital wards and additional facilities, organize charity tournaments and charity evenings, auctions, concerts, fashion evenings, various sports and children’s events and activities, and we ourselves are happy to participate in various events.
about R.Kaukenas foundation
Our history
Our charity and support group was founded in 2012. At that time, Rimantas was still playing basketball and was one of the volunteers, participating with the national team in various voluntary organizations and projects. It was then that the basketball federation suggested to Rimantas to establish a support foundation to help children with oncological diseases. At the same time, Rimantas’ father was suffering from oncological disease, so the personal touch to this disease only further fueled the idea of establishing such a foundation. The idea was to draw public attention, encourage contributions, and at the same time ease the burden of families experiencing a difficult diagnosis.
about R.Kaukenas foundation
Mission
Our mission is to help children with serious illnesses and their families cope with the burden of a difficult diagnosis, to bring light and hope for recovery into their lives.
We want to encourage others by our example not to be indifferent to charity, to see the need and see opportunities to help others, to get involved and feel that this help really works and is really needed. We want to encourage people to establish foundations for those who need our help and empathy the most. It is important for us that society understands the great importance of charity and willingly participates in its initiatives. After all, running a 10 km marathon is much more motivating when you have a kind goal, and a purchased item, when you not only buy it, but know that part of the funds paid are allocated to charity, is much nicer. So we simply want to encourage people to open their hearts and notice opportunities to help and contribute.
about R.Kaukenas foundation
Directions of activity, tasks and goals:
- Cooperation with medical institutions
- Providing necessary assistance (medical, social, educational) to children with oncological diseases and their relatives
- Providing good emotions to seriously ill children and their relatives by organizing joyful leisure time
- Spreading of important messages about the importance of assistance and support for children in society
- Develop respect and tolerance, a democratic attitude towards the diversity of beliefs, lifestyles, and worldviews
- Support programs for the development of social care and welfare for seriously ill children
- Improve primary cancer prevention
- Teach children to regularly check their health and give gifts to those who come for check-ups
- Increase our assistance to children so that they can receive even better treatment and undergo surgeries abroad
about R.Kaukenas foundation
Inspiration
Our foundation is most inspired by the desire to help others, the visible result of that assistance is recovered children, the sparkling eyes of parents and children and warm, sincere feedback. Every time we receive a thank-you message, a call or a word of gratitude expressed in another form, our hearts tremble and we know that we are on the right path. This is what inspires us, encourages us to strive and give as much warmth, love and care as possible. Seeing how people change, how they get involved, how they believe in our foundation and how willingly they join it – it is impossible otherwise. People – probably the best definition of what inspires us.
about R.Kaukenas foundation
Cooperation with medical institutions
We cooperate with the Departments of Pediatric Oncohematology at Vilnius University Santariškės Children’s Hospital and Kaunas Clinics of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Hospital. Together with the health specialists working there, we try to get to know each child, establish contact with families and provide them with the necessary assistance. Foundation also provides medical institutions with missing medical equipment, renovates the premises there. The foundation pays great attention to the employment of children receiving treatment there – it organizes various events and activities, and rewards patients with attention and gifts during visits.
about R.Kaukenas foundation
We spread an important message in society
We form a favorable and tolerant attitude of society towards seriously ill children and their families. We organize social campaigns, during which we try to expand the traditions of donation and sharing with others in the country. During various events, we introduce people to possible forms of support and charity and invite them to join our community.
about R.Kaukenas foundation
Sources of support
Every year we receive more and more attention from private businesses, various organizations and individuals. The activities of the foundation are carried out from funds allocated by:
Private businesses
Donations collected during various initiatives (actions initiated by private business employees within the organization)
1.2 percent of personal income taxes allocated to the activities of the foundation
Donations collected during charitable projects and events initiated by the foundation
Activities initiated by private businesses, during which part of the funds from the provided products or services go to children under the care of the foundation
Donations from individuals
Donations for the foundation’s attributes (T-shirts, children and adult clothes, socks, etc.)
Short numbers during various initiatives
about R.Kaukenas foundation
Sources of support
We often become mediators between those who want to help and those who need help. Organizations and individuals provide support for children and their families themselves, and the foundation organizes meetings with both parts, thus promoting community and mutual friendship.
Our foundation does not leave anyone indifferent in various service and trade sectors. The foundation’s administrative costs are reduced by partnerships with logistics and shipping companies, translation agencies, electronics representatives, marketing specialists and other businesses. Various professionals in their fields often agree to perform tasks necessary for the foundation’s activities free of charge, thus increasing the foundation’s productivity and operational efficiency without additional costs.
It is a great honor and responsibility for us that so many different people and companies join our circle of like-minded people, who themselves initiate charitable initiatives, events, projects, allocate part of their production/services, fulfill children’s dreams or contribute to the foundation’s activities in other unique way.
about R.Kaukenas foundation
Transparency
We have a small team that works together and is a real family and does not spare long working hours for kind deeds. We strive to ensure that our donors always know what goals, initiatives or dreams their donations are used for. We send a monthly newsletter to our supporters and newsletter subscribers and at the end of the year we prepare an annual report with the work done that year.
about R.Kaukenas foundation
Moments from the Fund's Life
