2024 Balzekas Museum Award Dinner Honoring Juozas Polikaitis

Every year, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture honors exceptional individuals who, through their talents, efforts, and achievements, have distinguished themselves and contributed to the betterment of humanity. The Award is the highest and longest-standing civic honor of its kind outside of Lithuania. The roster of former honorees includes civic and cultural leaders, physicians, artists, scholars, diplomats, and even two Lithuanian Presidents.

Juozas Polikaitis (born November 3, 1935, in Gudžiūnai, Lithuania) is a prominent chemist, social activist, and leader in the Lithuanian-American community. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Detroit (1959) and a master's in metallurgical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology (1977). After serving as an Army captain (1959-1961), he worked as a chemical engineer at Douglas Aircraft, Pyle National, EKCO Products, and Chicago-American National Can. He contributed to technical journals and gave lectures, including at Lehigh University.

Polikaitis was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Metal Decorators Association in 1990. He has also been deeply involved in Lithuanian-American cultural and social organizations, including leadership roles in the Ateitis Federation, the Ateitininkai Federation, and the U.S. Lithuanian Community Council. He served on the Council of the Lithuanian newspaper Draugas and was a member of the Lithuanian World Community Parliament (PLB Seimas).

An advocate for education, Polikaitis taught at several Lithuanian schools in Chicago and was active in the Dainava ensemble and Virgin Mary Parish.

The Award dinner, which is also the Museum's annual fundraiser, is a long-standing tradition and a much-anticipated social event of the calendar year. This year's event will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 5 p.m at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 S. Pulaski Rd., 60629.

Tickets are $125 per person and $200 for Patron Donors. Black tie attire is optional.

R.S.V.P. by Friday, December 3, 2024.

Host or Publisher Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture