$5.5 Million Raised in the United States to Preserve Finnish Cultural Heritage

Finnish cultural heritage in the United States faced an existential threat, but donors stepped in. Now, over $5.5 million has been raised to preserve the unique Finnish-America history.

Finlandia Foundation National (FFN), a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Finnish cultural heritage in the US, has announced the results of the "Saving Finland in America" campaign. Over 900 individual donors, families, organizations, and nonprofit foundations across Finnish-America have donated a record-breaking $5.5 million to ensure the preservation of the unique Finnish-American cultural history in Hancock, Michigan.

Finnish cultural heritage in Michigan faced the threat of disappearing. Last year, Finlandia University, originally founded as Suomi College in 1896, was closed, threatening the invaluable Finnish American Heritage Center with the same fate. This posed an existential threat to its unique contents – the largest collection of Finnish and Finnish-American heritage artifacts in North America. Although centered in Michigan, the collection truly represents a national story of Finnish-America, containing material from all corners of the US. In fact, it has been referred to as the “Smithsonian of Finnish-America.”

Finlandia Foundation National (FFN) took on the responsibility of caring for the Finnish American Heritage Center and its extensive collection, and launched a major fundraising campaign to preserve this unique heritage. Thanks to the collected funds, Finlandia Foundation National now owns and operates the center, ensuring the preservation of Finnish-American history. Additionally, this operation includes the Finlandia Art Gallery, the Finnish American Folk School, the monthly newspaper the Finnish American Reporter, and North Wind Books.

“The Finnish-American community truly came together in response to the “Saving Finland in America” project. Thanks to the outpouring of support that we received, we can say that we exceeded our goals. We are now well-equipped to tackle major projects in the coming years, such as digitization of the historical archive and curating special exhibits. We want to tell the Finnish-American story told in Hancock, MI well beyond Michigan,” says the executive director of FFN Thomas Flanagan.

A Rare Marimekko Collection

The Finnish American Heritage Center holds a wide range of unique cultural artifacts, including a rare Marimekko collection. The center presents the history of Finnish-Americans, covering everything from their early days in copper mining to their more recent contributions. It highlights the various ways this community has influenced and enriched American society.

“The Upper Midwest, particularly the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, has a significant history of Finnish immigration dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Finnish cultural influence remains strong in the region. Even people who may not be Finnish by heritage feel that they, too, are a part of the Finnish-American culture. The Finnish American Heritage Center as well as the culture and history it represents are important components of that. FFN, however, has a national scope, as Finns and Finnish-Americans can be found in communities across the nation,” continues Flanagan, who is also Finnish-American.

Rich History of Finnish Americans

The Consulate General of Finland in New York, Ambassador Jarmo Sareva, has also recognized the continuous efforts by the FFN to preserve Finnish culture in the US. He participated in the rededication ceremony of the Finnish American Heritage Center in Michigan in April 2024.

“The Finnish-American relations are stronger than ever, and Finland is more known in the US than ever before. We are grateful to have partners such as FFN bridging modern Finland and the Finnish-American community in the US. The FFN's efforts ensure that future generations can learn about and appreciate the rich history of Finnish-Americans,” says Jarmo Sareva.

A Bridge Between Modern Finland and the US

Finlandia Foundation National is the umbrella organization for local Finland-America associations in the United States.

The organization maintains Finnish-American culture in the United States through various cultural activities, such as National Sauna Week, providing stipends for students in Finland and the US, granting awards for projects of Finnish and Finnish-American significance, and fostering connections between modern Finland and the United States. The organization includes nearly 60 local chapters in the United States and maintains a database of nearly 9,000 members.

FFN is also a major sponsor of this year's FinnFest USA cultural festival, which will explore Nordic culture and learning. The festival is happening this week in Minnesota, where the keynote speaker will be Member of the Finnish Parliament and former Foreign Minister, Pekka Haavisto. FinnFest continues the tradition of Finnish-American community festivals that began in the 1970s, bringing attention to contemporary Finland.

For more information:

Thomas Flanagan

thomas.flanagan@finlandiafoundation.org

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