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Dear Friends,
Hyvää Juhannusta! Whether you're enjoying summer festivities in the United States or soaking in the magic of the midnight sun in Finland, we send you warm Midsummer greetings from all of us at Finlandia Foundation National. We Finns truly cherish this season — no one celebrates summer quite like us — and Juhannus is one of its most beautiful expressions.
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We’re eagerly looking ahead to the FinnFest celebrations in late July, followed by a series of special events we're planning in Hancock. We warmly invite you to join us in honoring Finnish and Finnish-American heritage and culture—first in Duluth, and then in Hancock!
Until then, we soak up all of the joy of summer, connection, friends, family, community, sauna, and more!
Juhannus terveisiä // Midsommarhälsningar // Summer greetings,
Thomas Flanagan
Executive Director
Finlandia Foundation National
| | FinnFest is Coming: Here is Your Guide to the Activities | | |
A Week of Finnish Fun, Culture & Community with Finlandia Foundation!
Finlandia Foundation National is proud to be a major partner of FinnFest 2025, bringing a week of unforgettable programming that celebrates the richness of Finnish and Finnish-American culture. From Duluth to Hancock, join us for concerts, lectures, storytelling, fashion, sauna discussions, and community singalongs.
Highlights include performances by our Performer of the Year Charlotte Loukola, the joyful sounds of the Finnish International Choir, a vintage Marimekko fashion show, and the launch of our Oral History Project. Then, head to the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock for post-FinnFest events including the exhibit Why Did the Finns Come to Copper Country?, traditional arts workshops at the Finnish American Folk School, and a performance by the Kivajat Dancers honoring Michigan Heritage Awardee Kay Seppala. It's a full week of Finnish fun, connection, and community—don't miss it!
Bookmark finlandiafoundation.org/finnfest-2025 to stay tuned!
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Oral History Project at FinnFest
Join us in preserving the voices and experiences of Finnish Americans through the Finlandia Foundation National Oral History Project. During FinnFest 2025, we will be conducting one-on-one oral history interviews with community members aged 60 and above.
This event is organized by Finlandia Foundation National’s Young Leader’s Board member Mirva Johnson, PhD, researcher and educator in Scandinavian Studies – Folklore from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Sign up or share the link here.
| | | Nominate a Changemaker: 2025 FinnFest Awards | | |
Do you know someone—or an organization or business—that’s made a meaningful impact in promoting Finnish or Finnish-American culture? Nominations are now open for the 2025 FinnFest Awards, which will be presented at the Gala Dinner in Duluth on August 1:
- Robert W. Selvala Society Award – honoring individuals or organizations that have advanced Finnish and Finnish-American culture in the spirit of FinnFest.
- FinnFest Business Award – recognizing companies that have fostered successful Finland–U.S. business ties.
Everyone is encouraged to participate in the nominating process.
🗓 Deadline: June 25
📩 Submit your nomination here.
| | A Finnish company Uponor North America was recognized as a company that has built and fostered successful business connections between the US and Finland in 2024. | | | |
Finlandia experiences the 2025 World Sauna Forum in Jyväskylä, Finland
After connecting with global sauna leaders during National Sauna Week 2025, Finlandia Foundation National traveled to the World Sauna Forum in Jyväskylä, Finland—and found ourselves at the heart of a movement.
Dive into Minea Lindqvist Herwitz’s full story of connection, tradition, and of the spread of authentic Finnish sauna culture.
👉 Read More
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Welcome to Our New Board Members
We are proud to welcome two exceptional individuals to the Finlandia Foundation National Board of Trustees. Both bring a deep commitment to Finnish heritage, along with impressive professional accomplishments and rich life experiences.
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Kevin Jussila – Paso Robles, CA
Finnish-American winemaker Kevin Jussila brings his heritage to life through kukkula, his award-winning winery in Paso Robles, California. A proud son of Finnish immigrants, Kevin grew up speaking Finnish as his first language and maintains strong ties to his roots. After a successful career as a financial advisor, he followed his passion into winemaking full-time. Today, his internationally recognized wines reflect not only his skill and dedication but also the values and spirit of Finnish culture.
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Catherine Mannick – Cambridge, MA
Catherine Mannick is a Finnish-American with roots in South Dakota and a career that spans continents. As an international lawyer for more than 30 years, she has advised clients throughout Europe, Latin America, and the former Soviet Union. Catherine holds a BA from Yale and both a JD and an MA in History from Harvard. Her lifelong interest in Finnish culture was deepened by a year spent at a folk high school in Northern Karelia, where she studied Finnish language, history, and traditions.
| | We are honored to have Kevin and Catherine join our board and look forward to the insight, energy, and dedication they bring to the Finlandia Foundation mission. | | Pre-Loved Books: On Sale Now! | | |
Discover a Hidden Gem on Every Shelf — Shop Our Pre-Loved Finnish Books!
Looking to explore your Finnish roots, brush up on your language skills, or dive into Nordic culture on a budget? You’re in the right place!
Our preloved Finnish books are full of character, charm, and history—just like the readers who once loved them. From classic Suomi–Englanti dictionaries to cultural favorites like The Kalevala and Of Finnish Ways, we’ve got a little something for everyone. And best of all? Most titles are just $5-$20!
Supplies are limited, and once they’re gone, they’re gone—shop now and find your next Finnish favorite!
| | National Sauna Week 2026 – Call for Speakers! | | |
Are you passionate about sauna culture? Do you have a story, skill, or perspective you’re eager to share with a global audience? Finlandia Foundation National invites you to apply to be a featured speaker for the fifth anniversary of National Sauna Week, happening online from February 15–21, 2026. In 2025, our digital content reached over 2 million views, and next year, it'll be even steamier!
Whether you're a folklorist, builder, health expert, entrepreneur, scientist, artist, or simply a sauna enthusiast, we want to hear from you—or someone you know! Share your knowledge in a 45–60 minute online session and help us explore sauna from every angle: tradition, wellness, architecture, community, mythology, or innovation.
If you or someone in your network would be a great fit for our high-visibility program, apply before September 30, 2025.
👉 Apply Now!
📬 Final deadline: September 30, 2025
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Applications Open July 1 for Lecturer and Performer of the Year!
Finlandia Foundation National will be accepting applications for its 2026 Lecturer and Performer of the Year programs starting July 1. These annual initiatives bring talented individuals to audiences across the U.S. to share Finnish and Finnish-American culture through music, performance, history, and storytelling.
Are you—or do you know—an artist, musician, historian, scholar, or entertainer with a passion for Finnish heritage? This is your chance to shine on a national stage and connect with enthusiastic audiences coast to coast.
Applications open July 1, 2025. Stay tuned for details!
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Subscribe to the Finnish American Reporter – A Monthly Connection to Your Heritage
There’s something special about opening your mailbox and finding a newspaper that speaks your language—or at least speaks to your deep cultural roots in a language you understand. The Finnish American Reporter is more than just a monthly publication; it’s a lifeline to heritage, tradition, and community.
The Finnish American Reporter—now proudly owned and operated by Finlandia Foundation National—has been the voice of Finns in North America since 1986.
| | Juhannus, the long-awaited midsummer celebration, is upon us. Finns are gathering at their mökkit/cabins, planning meals for large family gatherings, collecting wildflowers and washing down their sauna benches. You can feel it in the air. Summer is finally here. | | |
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 | | | | |
