Kerhotalo Fund Makes Its Mark: Supporting Finnish-American Projects and Students in 2025
Written By:
Minea Herwitz
Finlandia Foundation National (FFN) is proud to announce the first round of awards made possible by the newly established FFN Kerhotalo Fund, created in 2024 by the American Finnish Club – Kerhotalo of Lantana, Florida. This legacy fund was designed to support projects and scholars that strengthen Finnish-American life, both in Florida and across the United States.
In its first year of implementation, the Kerhotalo Fund provided $18,000 in total support, fully or partially funding two scholarships and four grant projects. These awards were approved at the 2025 FFN annual board meeting held in late April in Chicago, Illinois, as part of FFN’s total nearly $225,000 of grant and scholarship funding.
“It was an exciting year for Kerhotalo to work with Finlandia Foundation National,” said Sal Perna, President of the American Finnish Club. “As we aim to increase our philanthropy, we learned a lot from the process this year. We are thrilled to be able to support projects that help strengthen Finnish America.”
The Kerhotalo Fund is a shining example of what can be accomplished through legacy giving. By joining forces with FFN’s established grants and scholarships program, this dedicated funding stream expands opportunities for cultural preservation, education, and innovation in the Finnish-American community.
“We are always so impressed to review the applications we receive,” said Thomas Flanagan, FFN Executive Director. “There is so much interesting work going on across our community—from historical preservation projects and academic research to music studies, language studies, and networking events. I truly believe that when we can partner with other dedicated Finnish-American organizations, such as Kerhotalo, we can increase our impact.”
FFN extends its heartfelt thanks to the award committees and the board of Kerhotalo for their dedication and collaboration.Stay tuned at finlandiafoundation.org and in upcoming publications as we share stories about this year’s grantees and scholars.