Submitted photo Kerhotalo President Kaija Kalervo, fourth from right, and members of the board present a $1 million check to Finlandia Foundation National at the Finnish-American Village in Lake Worth, Florida.

PASADENA, CA — The American Finnish Club of Lake Worth, Florida (known in the community as Kerhotalo) has presented a gift of $1 million to Finlandia Foundation National.

The monumental donation is the cornerstone contribution in the Saving Finland in America campaign launched in 2023 to preserve and protect the historical and cultural assets of the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock.

Additionally, a part of this donation will be designated to establish the “Kerhotalo Fund” through FFN, which will enable and support scholarships, grants and programs that are connected with, or relevant to, the Finnish-American community and Florida. Both objectives represent a significant boost to Finnish America.

FAHC houses thousands of documents, photographs, newspapers, records and artifacts that tell the story of Finnish America. Last year, FFN embarked on a $3 million campaign to save those as well as the Finlandia Art Gallery, Finnish American Folk School, Price of Freedom Museum, North Wind Books and The Finnish American Reporter, all of which had previously been held by the now-closed Finlandia University. In addition to saving the Heritage Center and bookstore buildings, FFN maintains the staff of six personnel responsible for the ongoing programs, operations and conservation of and care for these historical assets.

FFN President Anne-Mari Paster and Executive Director Tommy Flanagan, as well as FFN Trustee and Honorary Consul of Finland Peter Makila, accepted the ceremonial check. It was presented Thursday by Kerhotalo President Kaija Kalervo and board members at the Annan Maja building at Finnish-American Village in Lake Worth.

“This significant gift exemplifies well how the work we do here in Hancock is appreciated and valued by people across this nation and around the world for that matter,” FAHC director David Maki says. “We will definitely use this gift to give back to the Finnish American community by continuing our mission of preserving and promoting Finnish American heritage and ensuring that the many contributions Finns have made in this country will be remembered for future generations to appreciate and learn from.”

Maki, who is also the managing editor of The Finnish American Reporter, comments, “Though I work with words every day, I’m not sure I have the right words to describe exactly how impactful this gift is not only for the Heritage Center and its many components, but also for Finnish America as a whole.”

Maki’s local reaction is mirrored by those outside the Copper Country.

“The contribution by Kerhotalo is significant and enabled us to reach our $3 million goal,” says Paster. “It is humbling to know that the members of the organization have entrusted Finlandia Foundation with this new responsibility and opportunity in Hancock. With this gift, we will be able to ensure a future for these irreplaceable treasures of Finland and Finnish America.”

“This gift carries on the legacy of the founders of Kerhotalo in a very meaningful way,” says Kalervo. “Many of them came to Florida from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and their Finnish heritage was of utmost importance. The fact that we can help save the Heritage Center and its contents, and create a Kerhotalo Fund to help support current projects in Florida, is the best way we can honor the hard work of everyone who supported Kerhotalo over its 80 years. ”

The American Finnish Club was founded in 1944 for the area’s growing population of Finnish Americans and visitors from Finland who gathered for cookouts, dances and other activities. By 1946, the members had built their own hall, which was expanded in 1955. At one time, the Lake Worth area’s seasonal population of those with Finnish roots swelled to 30,000.

The $1 million donation comes from the proceeds of the sale in 2023 of Kerhotalo. Throughout its history, the organization has given much to the community through its celebration of culture and heritage.

FFN is a nonprofit founded in Pasadena, California, in 1953 to support and promote Finnish-American interests and offer related programming, scholarships and grants.

Further information is available at the FFN website, FinlandiaFoundation.org.