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Philanthropy

In 2022, the idea was born within our family to establish a foundation dedicated to our employees’ children — to support their education, studies, and broader opportunities for the future. However, life sometimes reshapes our plans. When the war in Ukraine began, we realized we could no longer wait. As someone who has spent a lifetime working with animals and is a professional in the field of cynology, this situation felt especially painful. Watching images of bombed cities, of people fleeing their homes carrying their dogs and cats in their arms, was heartbreaking. I understood deeply what the bond between a human and an animal means. So the first thought was simple — we had to act. We had to help. And we had to do it quickly.
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I have always clearly separated work and family. My profession demands discipline, decision-making, and responsibility, but home is a different space. There are no titles there, no roles, no evaluation of results. There is only connection.

With my husband, Tauras, we are united not only by family, but by a shared direction. We grew together — as individuals and as partners. He has always been by my side — encouraging, supporting, and never allowing me to stop, even when it felt too difficult or too soon. Our partnership is built on creating together, making decisions together, and growing together.

Discipline is essential to Janita. She lives with structure, clarity, and consistency. It allows her to maintain balance — to know when full focus is required for work, and when it is time to simply be with family. Order, respect, and accountability for one’s word are values that apply both in her professional life and at home.

She has never pursued money as a goal. It has always been a result. The true meaning has always been responsibility — for what she creates, for the people around her, and for her family.

“If I had to put it simply — the foundation of my life is a clear direction, partnership, and values I never compromise,” says Janita.

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The Janita and Tauras Plungė Charity and Support Foundation was not created overnight. It was a long-held family vision — a deeply rooted idea that they wanted to do more than simply work within their own field. February 24, 2022 — the day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — accelerated everything. On that day, they clearly understood: they could no longer wait.

We saw what was happening in Ukraine. We understood that alongside people, there were millions of pets. And they are not “just animals.” They are family members, loyal companions, and often the only source of comfort in the face of war. We made the decision to act — and to act quickly. In the very first days of the war, when there were no clear humanitarian corridors and no organized aid systems, we rapidly established the foundation and focused all our efforts on Ukraine. Without delay, we began loading trucks and vans with pet food. It became one of the first waves of humanitarian aid to reach Ukraine. Over the course of two years, our family alone donated more than €260,000 worth of pet food to people who, during the war, were striving to protect not only their homes, but also their animals.
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Even before the foundation was officially established, we had already delivered nearly 100 tons of pet food to Ukraine using our own funds. That was the first step. It was followed by ten more shipments. In total, we transported around 196 tons of food and essential supplies. Together with KIKA Group and our community, we provided more than €202,000 worth of support to animals in Ukraine. For us, it was not only about quantity, but also about quality. We carefully selected different types of food for young, senior, sensitive, and allergic dogs and cats. The aid reached shelters, kennels, clubs, and individuals who had taken in animals left without homes. Our partners and volunteers from different countries also joined the effort. In Lithuania, the KIKA retail network distributed 1,000 essential supply kits to Ukrainians with pets. The logistics of delivering aid were complex, but critically important. In Ukraine, our partner and distributor, Igor Pluźenko, coordinated the entire process — ensuring that the supplies reached exactly those places where help was needed most, including regions close to the front lines and active war zones.
In the first weeks of the war, our teams drove vans to the border. The vehicles were loaded with pet food and essential care supplies. There, at the border, we simply distributed aid to people fleeing the war with their animals, not knowing where they would go next. Later, for three months, we launched a dedicated support initiative across Lithuania, Poland, and Estonia. All refugees from Ukraine arriving with pets were able to receive a free care package — including food, litter, and essential supplies. In addition, our grooming salons provided free services for their animals, because even in such difficult circumstances, pets still need proper care. We also contributed to relief efforts together with the Lithuanian Kennel Club, organizing donations and coordinating the delivery of pet food to Ukraine. We looked for broader ways to help — I even participated in a meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Chicago, where we discussed potential support projects for Ukraine. Although that particular initiative did not materialize, the fact that these discussions took place on an international level showed just how important this support is.
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This experience once again reminded me of a very important truth: animals in a person’s life are not just pets — they are part of the family. In times of war, people may lose their homes, their cities, or everything they own, yet until the very last moment, they strive to protect what matters most — their family and their animals. That is why our support was not only for the animals, but also for the people whose lives were affected by war, and who, even in the most difficult moments, did not abandon their most loyal companions.

When establishing the foundation, the Plungė family defined three core values: life, speed, and transparency. In extreme situations, there is no time to wait. Help must reach those in need quickly. And every euro must be used responsibly. “We believe that every life matters. And if we can help, we have a duty to do so,” they say.

Family and Values

I have always clearly separated work and family. My profession demands discipline, decision-making, and responsibility, but home is a different space. There are no titles there, no roles, no evaluation of results. There is only connection. With my husband, Tauras, we are united not only by family, but by a shared direction.

We grew together — as individuals and as partners. He has always been by my side — encouraging, supporting, and never allowing me to stop, even when it felt too difficult or too soon. Our partnership is built on creating together, making decisions together, and growing together. Discipline is essential to Janita.

She lives with structure, clarity, and consistency. It allows her to maintain balance — to know when full focus is required for work, and when it is time to simply be with family. Order, respect, and accountability for one’s word are values that apply both in her professional life and at home. She has never pursued money as a goal. It has always been a result. The true meaning has always been responsibility — for what she creates, for the people around her, and for her family. “If I had to put it simply — the foundation of my life is a clear direction, partnership, and values I never compromise,” says Janita.
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