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“My work, whereby I try to help people, is my monument to my Grandpa, my Opa,” once said Anna Justīne Čakste-Rollins (1936), an American Latvian, who expands the links of human love to and reaches out personally, supporting capable minds and allowing new ideas to take root in fertile soil in her homeland, in Latvia.
The Foundation of University of Latvia is characterized by excellence, growth, generation of ideas and relentless movement, and its very fundament has always been philanthropy. The patroness Anna J. Čakste-Rollins in the early 2000s became one of the initiators and benefactors, who hand in hand with the Kāvusis Foundation of Education and Culture started to support the University of Latvia scholarship programme Ceļamaize (“Bread for the Journey”). This selfless support to this day remains the first supporting step for talented young students of the University of Latvia – creators of the future.
“I am pleased to help to obtain higher education – they are the future of our country. An educated society and enlightened citizens will be able to bring Latvia’s name in the world, creating a brighter future. Education and determination are a way to overcome poverty and deprivation. That’s how it was in the past, that’s how it is today, and that’s how it will remain in the future. Doing something good for our future – it is also the only means we can commemorate my father, since he does not have a monument,” says patroness Anna J. Čakste-Rollins, who is characterized by true compassion and steadfast commitment to society. For a good reason, the granddaughter of the first President of the Free State of Latvia Jānis Čakste and the daughter of an honourable and esteemed professor of the UL Faculty of Law Konstantīns Čakste has received the title of Honorary Member of the University of Latvia.
Optimism that charges everything
The representative of the patroness in Latvia, the guardian and continuator of the altruistic mission, and also a close friend of Anna J. Čakste-Rollins is Zigrīda Grīnhofa. “Anna is a person who radiates kindness and this quality has been entrenched in the family, in her genes – to do good so that the homeland can flourish and prosper,” says Zigrīda and continues: “Anna’s enthusiasm is very encouraging; working in a team with her, I greatly grew as a person, discovering entirely new horizons.” In addition, the representative of the patroness emphasizes that A. Čakste is a person endowed with congeniality – she understands young people as well as her peers.
Zigrīda met Anna in 1992, when she had just joined the Latvian Red Cross. It was the period of awakening when new opportunities opened up for independent Latvia and fresh currents permeated the country, bringing along the first seedlings to grow into the culture of philanthropy and giving. Anna J. Čakste-Rollins had sent letters to the Latvian Red Cross about the desire of compatriots living in Southern California to support Latvian youth. It was a time when Jānis and Millija Kāvusis, Latvians in exile, who had spent most of their lives abroad, living there modestly and accruing savings, had established the Kāvusis Foundation of Education and Culture. Its purpose was to support large families.
To help while living thousands of miles away
The Čakste and Kāvusis families had already known each other since their studies at the University of Latvia, moreover, the roots of both families can be found in Zemgale. Kāvusis themselves did not have any offspring, and their only thought was to help Latvia and its young people – to ensure that great, brilliant and knowledgeable people could grow up here. From thousands of kilometres away, they have sent all their savings to further a noble cause. Thus, Anna J. Čakste-Rollins, as the manager of the Kāvusis family funds, the representative of the foundation continued their mission hand in hand with Zigrīda Grīnhofa – first through the Latvian Red Cross, and later in cooperation with university foundations, awarding scholarships.
Anna J. Čakste-Rollins spent every summer in Latvia, and together with Zigrīda, she met families who needed support. “It has remained in my memory as a fantastic time – to be with Anna, to meet these people, to hear their life stories and to hear Anna’s vision of how she saw Latvia. 1995 was a year full of challenges,” recalls Z. Grīnhofa.
To show gratitude to Anna J. Čakste-Rollins for her selfless work, in 2004 Latvian Red Cross awarded her the title of Honorary Member, in 2005 she was decorated with the First Class Order of the Three Stars, and in 2007 she received the Latvian Red Cross Badge of Honour.
Scholarship recipients express their appreciation
With the administrative support of the University of Latvia Foundation, 6 new University of Latvia students have received the scholarships. One of the scholarship recipients was Līga Apsēna, a student at the Faculty of Biology, who entered a new stage of her life by moving to Riga and starting her studies at the University of Latvia. Although the financial situation was hardly favourable, Līga purposefully followed her dream – to study biological sciences – and her thesis received an excellent assessment. “I would like to say a great thank you to our patroness Anna for her willingness to support low-income Latvian students who aspire to higher education because this is exactly how talented people can actualise their potential and contribute to the development of Latvia. May God bless Latvia and many other young people who contribute to growth of Latvia!” Līga voices her appreciation.
Jana Kassaliete, a student of the Faculty of Biology of the University of Latvia, is one of the more recent scholarship recipients. She shares the benefits of receiving support: “Thanks to the scholarship, I was able to let go of the worries about my financial situation and focus on my studies and personal growth. The scholarship provided an opportunity to obtain a driver’s license, as well as to gain new experience while studying abroad. I would like to thank my patroness Anna Čakste-Rollins!”
About the University of Latvia Foundation
Since 2004, the UL Foundation provides an opportunity to patrons and cooperation partners to support both the University of Latvia and other leading higher education institutions of our country, thereby investing in the future of Latvia. The priorities of the UL Foundation are to support the most outstanding, dedicated students and researchers, to advance creation of a modern study environment, as well as to promote construction and refurbishment of university’s buildings.
About “Friends of the University of Latvia”
Since 2012, the non-profit organization “Friends of the University of Latvia” has been uniting American citizens of Latvian origin – supporters of the University of Latvia. It is the partner organization of the UL Foundation, founded by the initiative of John J. Medveckis. By donating to this Foundation, US citizens can receive tax deduction. The main task of the foundation is to ensure a brighter future for Latvian education.
