Edita Mildažytė

Edita Mildažytė (born February 28, 1966) is a Lithuanian journalist, documentarian and social activist, widely known as the host of the longest running talk show in Lithuanian TV history, “Bėdų turgus” (Buy My Trouble), on air since 2001.[1][2]

Biography

Mildažytė was born in Kapsukas (now Marijampolė), Southern Lithuania, the capital of Lithuania’s ethnographic region of Suvalkija, to Vytautas Mildažis and Gražina Marė Petkūnienė.

In 1973-1975 she was a student at Kaunas 27th secondary school, later continued her studies at Vilnius 34th secondary school, from which she graduated in 1984.

In 1984-1989 she completed her studies in journalism at the History Faculty of Vilnius University.

In 1987, Mildažytė won a competition and was selected as an announcer at the Lithuanian public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT). She has worked with LRT’s various programs since, including the morning show “Labas rytas” (Good Morning), “Vakaro žinios” (Late Night News), corporate entertainment events, national award ceremonies and live broadcasts including Lithuania Joining the European Union Program (2004), and live coverage of the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

In 1993-1997, Mildažytė worked as a newsreader at LRT’s late-night news program “Vakaro žinios". In 1997, Mildažytė launched one of the first TV talk shows in Lithuania, “Bobų vasara". Mildažytė also established a vocal group “Bobų vasara,” which performed nationally.

In 1997-2000 Edita visited various Lithuanian towns performing with the vocal group, Bobų vasara".

In 1999-2001, she also ran a radio program under the same name at the national commercial radio station Radiocentras

In 2000 Edita Mildažytė edited and presented a public TV show "2 blis" and "Noriu papasakot".

In 2001, Mildažytė started a charity talk show “Bėdų turgus” (Buy My Trouble) at LRT.[3] The show’s concept is to collect dramatic stories (of illness, loss, etc.) from across Lithuania and find a sponsor to “buy” this problem. The show has remained popular since its first broadcast.

In 2001, Edita started the Green Apple Donor Appreciation Concert,[4] wherein the Green Apple Award (by sculptor Marius Jonutis) was introduced to honor people noted for their charity work or the qualities of generosity, decency etc.

In 2002 "Bėdų turgus" was established as a charity trust.

In 2002, "Nupirk duonos alkstantiems" (Buy bread for the starving) was organized

In 2002- 2008, four CDs ("Nepamirštoms žvaigždėms", Gražiausios miuziklų dainos", Itališka plokštelė", Karuselė") were recorded for charity.

In 2002- 2008 Mildažytė produced the television shows "Keliaukim",[5] "Moterys ir vyrai",[6] "Jau saulelė vakarop",[7] and "Pulsas".[8]

During the 2003 Green Apple Donor Appreciation Concert , disabled people were for the first time invited to perform together with national celebrities.

From 2004 - 2007 she created the "List of National Values]", and prepared it for translation.

In 2005 - 2007 she produced a CD, Žvaigždės motinoms" and a DVD, Retro" and, Mamai". In 2005 - 2007 Edita started "Christmas soup", a charitable collection action. Money collected was donated to the Order of Malta's charity program "Food on Wheels."

In 2005, under Edita's leadership, the first concert dedicated to Mother's Day was organized, where local celebrities were performing together with their moms.

In 2003 - 2008, she produced the annual concerts, Daugiau saulės, daugiau šviesos" ("Let in the sun, let in the light").

In 2006 - 2007, she held an event for "the greatest moms", (mothers who raised 5 or more children).[9]

In 2007 the Internet site www.diabites.lt was launched to facilitate fundraising for the procurement of insulin pumps for diabetic children. The website is a subsidiary of the charity trust "Bėdų turgus".

In 2008 Mildažytė visited the United States to fundraise for the "Diabites" program.[10]

In 2008 she compiled the first "List of National Treasures", dedicated to Lithuanians par excellence.[11]

In 2009, she produced and directed the Millennium of Lithuania Celebration Concert, which was performed in the Cathedral Square, Vilnius.

In 2010, Mildažytė wrote the script and conducted the mass event dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Lithuanian independence.

In 2010, the "Bėdų turgus" charity trust organized a fundraising campaign “Lithuania-Georgia. One Heart,” to support children affected by the war in Georgia after the Russo-Georgian War in 2008. Altogether LTL 247,000 (roughly USD 100,000) was raised during the action.[12]

In 2011, a monument to the philanthropists of the city of Vilnius unveiled in the city centre. Concept idea by Edita Mildažytė. Sculpture by Romas Kvintas.[13]

In 2014 Mildažytė directed the quadrennial Lithuanian Song Festival.

Charity work

Since 2002, Mildažytė has run the charity foundation “Bėdų turgus”. According to the 2012 financial report, the trust had distributed donations worth EUR 1.8 million (USD 2 million). The trust also operates a separate line "Diabites", to help procure insulin pumps for diabetic children. In 2010, the trust organized a fundraising campaign “Lithuania-Georgia. One Heart,” to support children affected by the war in Georgia after the Russo-Georgian War in 2008.[3]

She has also worked to revive Lithuania’s ethnographic and culinary traditions, and to promote inter-communal dialogue. During the Hanukkah of 2011, she launched a campaign in the restaurants of Vilnius to promote potato pancakes (latkes) with cranberry sauce, which feature in both Jewish and Lithuanian cuisine.[14]

Personal life

Mildažytė is married to an architect and entrepreneur Gintautas Vyšniauskas. Together they have 5 children. The family is currently living in Vilnius.

Awards

Filmography

Bibliography
  • Pasimatymas su Lietuva. – Vilnius: Tyto alba, 2011. – 423 p.: iliustr. + 1 garso diskas (CD). – ISBN 978-9986-16-867-6
  • Lithuania of a First Date (translated by Diana Bartkutė-Barnard, Joseph Everatt, Andrius Užkalnis and Ada Mykolė Valaitis). – Vilnius: Tyto alba, 2012. – 423 p.: iliustr. + 1 CD. ISBN 978-9986-16-893-5

References
  1. "Gintautas Vyšniauskas ir Edita Mildažytė. Jo triumfo ir jos kapituliacijos diena". 15 min (in Lithuanian). 15 March 2009.
  2. "Per savo 47-ąjį gimtadienį Edita Mildažytė mini ir vestuvių metines". 15 min (in Lithuanian). 28 February 2013.
  3. "Edita Mildažytė". Yra šalis (in Lithuanian).
  4. http://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/laidos/Ž/1927/zaliojo_obuolio_padekos_koncertas/archyvas
  5. Dienraštis Vakarų ekspresas. "TV prodiuseriai: šlovė, jaudulys ir pinigai". ve.lt. Archived from the original on 2015-02-25.
  6. "Moterys ir vyrai". Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija.
  7. "LRT". Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija.
  8. "LTV – publicistinė laida apie sveikatą "Pulsas"". Žmonės.lt. 7 August 2008.
  9. http://www.15min.lt/zmones/naujiena/archyvas/edita-mildazyte-vel-rinksime-mamu-mama-156-65846
  10. http://www.alfa.lt/straipsnis/181156/jav-lietuviai-su-mildazyte-gelbes-sergancius-lietuvos-vaikus
  11. http://www.delfi.lt/pramogos/eteris/ltv-skelbia-nacionaliniu-vertybiu-sarasa.d?id=8708976
  12. http://www.alfa.lt/straipsnis/10352670/children-of-georgia-war-refugees-will-get-support-from-a-charity-campaign-in-lithuania/
  13. http://www.15min.lt/zmones/naujiena/lietuva/edita-mildazyte-paminkla-labdariams-pasventino-obuoliai-is-dangaus-3-152620
  14. http://kauno.diena.lt/naujienos/miesto-pulsas/zydai-chanuka-kviecia-skanauti-bulviniu-blynu-su-cukrumi-276936#.VO9ecUs7kds
  15. "Editai Mildažytei įteiktas Santarvės ordinas". DELFI (in Lithuanian). 14 January 2005.
  16. "Edita Mildažytė paskelbta metų moterimi". DELFI (in Lithuanian). 22 November 2005.
  17. "Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas - Dokumento tekstas". lrs.lt (in Lithuanian).
  18. "E. Mildažytė apdovanota Gruzijos ordinu". Klubas.lt. 26 January 2011.
  19. http://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/tavo_lrt/37/90575/isdalinti_lrt_oskarai_aukso_bites_
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2015-02-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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