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NOVEMBER / MARRASKUU 2025
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Dear Friends,
At Finlandia Foundation National, I am humbled every day by the strength, spirit, and sisu of our community. Across the country, you are preserving Finnish-American heritage, celebrating culture, and building a future that honors our past while reaching boldly ahead. Today, I want to highlight two powerful ways we are doing that together.
First, the Making History Challenge. A visionary donor—deeply committed to Finnish-American history and genealogy—has pledged to match all donations to the Finnish American Heritage Center through the end of 2025, up to $100,000. This extraordinary gift will fuel our efforts to preserve and expand our archive, digitize precious materials, enhance exhibits, and ensure that the stories of Finnish immigrants are safeguarded for generations to come. You can double your impact at finlandiafoundation.org/makehistory.
But preserving history isn’t the only way we are building our future.
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You may have seen videos of me running through the hills of Montana. This is intentional. It’s part of our Flying Finn Challenge, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Paavo Nurmi’s legendary race tour across the United States. In honor of the “Flying Finn,” I’m running 10 different 10Ks (along with several friends including Steven Solkela and Anne-Mari Paster) leading up to Giving Tuesday on December 2. Through the halls of FFN, the rallying cry has become: “Run, Tommy, run!” And so far, this flying Finn has raised over $2,000 toward our general fund.
There are many ways we are working together toward a brighter, fiercely Finnish future—and these two initiatives capture both sides of what makes our community extraordinary: honoring our roots while challenging ourselves to reach further. You can learn more at finlandiafoundation.org/flyingfinnchallenge.
Ultimately, we are grateful for any and all the ways you support FFN and Finnish culture. Thank you from all of us, and a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
With gratitude,
Thomas Flanagan
Executive Director
| | The Flying Finn Challenge | |
100 Years of Paavo Nurmi, the Flying Finn. Join the Challenge!
This year marks a century since Paavo Nurmi—Finland’s legendary Flying Finn—raced across the U.S., setting 40 records and redefining endurance. To honor his legacy, our Executive Director, Thomas Flanagan, is running 10 different 10Ks leading up to Giving Tuesday, December 2. Now it’s your turn to celebrate sisu and support Finnish-American culture. You can join!
Run: Take on a 10K (or any distance!) and share your journey.
Donate: Support FFN’s grants, scholarships, and cultural programming.
Read: Grab Phantom Finn from North Wind Books—your purchase supports our mission.
Every contribution strengthens the work we do together. In fact, our Board members have pledged over $1000 matching. Donate today to keep Finnish culture racing toward a bright future!
| | National Sauna Week 2026: Join us for a Town Hall Online Event! | |
Join us for the National Sauna Week Town Hall online event to learn about what's in store!
Wednesday Dec. 17, 11am PT/2pm ET.
As we gear up for the 5th Anniversary of National Sauna Week, we’re turning up the heat. This virtual town hall is open to everyone in our community who is curious about how to get involved. Whether you are:
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A Finlandia Foundation chapter planning an in-person event
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A community member hosting your own sauna gathering
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A sauna operator interested in offering incentives and discounts
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A business or organization looking for visibility as an event sponsor
…this session is for you.
Join us to learn how you can participate, ask questions, share ideas, and collaborate as we prepare—together—to bring the joy and tradition of sauna to communities across the nation. Let’s make this the hottest Sauna Week yet and share the love of löyly with the nation. Feel free to invite friends!
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FROM THE ARCHIVE
Grace Lutheran Church recently donated 100 ledgers, binders, and documents to the Finnish American Heritage Center Archive, preserving the history of the Suomi Synod (Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church) and its congregations in Michigan, including communities that no longer exist. The records, many written in Finnish well into the 1960s, include church council minutes, sermon notes, youth organization documents, and a hand-written history of the Atlantic Mine congregation dating back to 1883. These materials provide invaluable genealogical and cultural insights, illustrating the enduring strength of Finnish heritage in the region and ensuring that the voices and stories of generations of Finnish Americans are preserved for future study and reflection.
Read the full story here.
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FFN Legacy Society and Planned Giving Info Session
Curious About Planned or Estate Giving?
Join us for an online information session to learn about the many ways you can support Finlandia Foundation National through planned and estate giving. We’ll cover topics such as understanding your assets, different types of charitable gifts, and basic gift vehicles. Whether you’re considering planned giving at any stage of life or want to learn about the benefits to donors, this session will also highlight the Finlandia Foundation Legacy Society and how you can help preserve Finnish-American culture for generations to come.
Tuesday, December 16, 12pm PT/ 3pm ET.
Register here.
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The Art of Community:
Carrie Vander Veen’s lasting impact on the Finlandia Art Gallery
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After more than two decades leading the Finlandia Art Gallery, our beloved gallery director and curator Carrie Vander Veen is retiring. Her vision, creativity, and heart have shaped the gallery into a true cultural bridge between Finland, Finnish America, and the world.
From showcasing Finnish masters and Indigenous artists to welcoming our first Artist-in-Residence, Eric Aho, Carrie built a space where art connects, challenges, and inspires. She didn’t just curate exhibitions—she nurtured a community, opening her home, sharing her famous cakes, and welcoming artists as family.
The Finlandia Art Gallery stands today as a living testament to her passion and care.
Kiitos, Carrie, for everything. Your legacy will continue to shine in every exhibition, every conversation, and every artist who walks through our doors.
“Art connects us—across distance, across generations, and across silence. It’s how we remember who we are and imagine who we might become.”
— Carrie Vander Veen
👉 Read more on our blog.
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Young Leaders Board Explores Finland’s Innovation and Ethical AI at Embassy Forum
On Tuesday, November 18, the Embassy of Finland in the U.S. in Washington, D.C. hosted a Young Leaders Forum highlighting Finland’s human-centered innovation culture, its leadership in emerging technologies, and, most importantly, how we can approach AI ethically, responsibly, and with real-world impact.
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Our 2026 Scholarships and Grants applications period opens November 1, offering funding for students, artists, researchers, and cultural projects that carry forward the Finnish-American story.
🗓️ Grant Deadline: January 17, 2026
🗓️ Scholarship Deadline: February 1, 2026
Learn more and prepare your application here 👉 finlandiafoundation.org/programs/
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Estate Gift from Sirkka Sinvero-Dragonas to Benefit FFN Through December Auction
Finlandia Foundation National experiences generosity in so many ways! This year, FFN was the recipient of an estate gift from a dedicated and passionate Finnish-American in Delaware, Sirkka Sinvero-Dragonas. Included in that were several personal items that will be accessioned into our Historical Archive at the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock, MI. Some items, which are not archival in nature, are available for purchase via online auction on December 3 and 4. The proceeds of the sale of these items will go to the benefit of FFN.
Click on the auction items below if you are interested:
| | 3pc Finnish vases. Alvar Aalto. Henrik Koivula vase (with rim chip) | | Finnish ceramics and glassware. 8pc lot. Arabia Koski covered baking casserole by Tapio Yli-Viikari. Arabia Ruska pitcher. Small iittala glassware. | | 4pc Arabia Finland Art Pottery. Vase by Hilkka Lisa Ahola. 17pc Aarikka wooden floral arrangement. Hard to find. 2 other small pcs of Arabia. | |
Celebrate Finland’s Independence Day — December 6
Finland turns 108 this year, and our 60+ Finlandia Foundation chapters across the country are preparing festive celebrations from coast to coast! Whether you’re craving community, culture, or a touch of glamor, there’s a party waiting for you.
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SEEING SILENCE:
HELENE SCHJERFBECK
WITH DR. ANNA-MARIA VON BONSDORFF, DITA AMORY, AND PATRICIA BERMAN
Wed., December 3 at 5 PM
New York, NY—On Wednesday, December 3, Scandinavia House is thrilled to present an evening with Dr. Anna Maria von Bonsdorff (Museum Director at the Ateneum Art Museum, Finnish National Gallery), Dita Amory (Curator in Charge, Robert Lehman Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art), and Patricia Berman (Feldberg Professor of Art, Wellesley College), as they discuss the work and life of Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck. Learn more here.
| | Join us for an Independence Day celebration at the Finnish American Heritage Center! On December 4 at 5:30 p.m., we honor Finland’s Independence Day, a tradition celebrated in Hancock since 1918. This year, the spotlight shines on our younger generation, with performances by the Kivajat Dancers and the new Kuparikielet youth folk band. We’ll also announce the 2026 Hankookin Heikki, recognizing outstanding contributions to Finnish-American culture. Our keynote speaker, Upper Michigan TV personality Mandy Koskela, will share heartfelt reflections on reconnecting with her Finnish roots in the U.P. After the program, stay for the opening of the Friends of Finland Youth Exhibit, featuring vibrant student artwork inspired by Finnish modernist Helene Schjerfbeck, soon to be featured at The Met in New York. | |
Recent donation from FFN bolsters Library of Congress collection of Finnish Americana
"Through its donation, FFN has helped to preserve the historical record of Finnish America at the national level, where it will engage, inspire, and inform Library patrons for generations to come."
An article was posted about our materials in the Library of Congress, highlighting how Finlandia Foundation National is preserving Finlandia University’s rare books, archives, and historical artifacts for future generations; read the full story here.
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Pittsburgh Chapter: Building a Finnish Nationality Room
Our Pittsburgh Chapter is working toward creating a Finnish Nationality Room in the historic Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh—an iconic cultural landmark visited by thousands each year. The Nationality Rooms serve as both classrooms and public exhibits, and events like the annual Holiday Open Housedraw hundreds of guests, turning the Cathedral into a lively Christmas market. It’s often during this event that new Finns and Friends of Finland discover the Pittsburgh Chapter for the first time.
This project is a powerful opportunity to preserve, honor, and share Finnish culture in a space that celebrates immigrant stories from around the world. Consider sharing or supporting at pittsburghfinns.net.
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Spotlight on a Finnish-French Musical Heading for the Oscars!
We are thrilled to share that Le Café de Mes Souvenirs (Muistojeni kahvila), a breathtaking Finnish-French musical, is in the running for the Oscars! Directed and written by Finnish filmmaker Valto Baltzar, this romantic and uplifting film beautifully blends Finnish and French culture, showcasing Helsinki’s charm, unforgettable music, and iconic design.
Featuring jazz legend Heikki Sarmanto’s compositions performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, the film is a visual and musical celebration of love, artistry, and storytelling.
🎥 Watch the trailer and discover this masterpiece: www.lecafedemessouvenirs.com
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Dedicate the Finland flag that waves at the Finnish American Heritage Center on a designated day. Each dedication directly supports the mission and ongoing programs of the Finnish American Heritage Center.
Thank you for helping preserve and celebrate Finnish-American heritage! Learn more here.
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Is planned giving in your future?
Join the Finlandia Legacy Society today!
| | Our legacy is our people. What’s yours? Learn more about our Finlandia Legacy Society by emailing: office@finlandiafoundation.org | | | | |
