FFN Installs Saving Finland in America Donor Wall
Written By:
Finlandia Foundation
Mar 16, 2026 — Finlandia Foundation National was pleased to announce the completion of a new donor wall at the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock, Michigan. The wall serves as recognition to the more than 900 individuals, groups, and organizations who supported the Saving Finland in America campaign.
Located between the building’s entryway and the Finlandia Art Gallery, the wall marks an important milestone for the organization and serves as a lasting tribute to the generosity that helped secure the future of the Finnish American Heritage Center following the closure of Finlandia University. Every visitor passing through this central point of the building will now see the names of those who stepped forward to preserve Finnish-American heritage.
The SFIA campaign was the largest and most successful initiative in Finlandia Foundation National’s more than 70-year history. The wall celebrates many of the supporters who made this effort possible, and Finlandia Foundation National remains deeply grateful to everyone whose generosity helped secure this historic achievement.
“We are deeply grateful to everyone who stepped forward in support of this effort,” said Executive Director Tommy Flanagan. “This wall is, in many ways, long overdue. Our gratitude is as strong today as it was when we launched the Saving Finland in America campaign. Together, we proved that our community can accomplish great things.”
President Päivi Tetri also reflected on the moment. “Without our community members, we cannot achieve our mission—our mission is our people,” she said. “The Saving Finland in America campaign showed just how many individuals it takes to achieve something meaningful. This wall stands as a tribute to the community that helped preserve Finnish and Finnish-American heritage for generations to come.”
Visitors to the Finnish American Heritage Center are invited and encouraged to pause at the donor wall and reflect on the remarkable collective effort it represents—for the past, the present, and, indeed, the future.
Finlandia Foundation National extends its heartfelt thanks—kiitos—to everyone who helped make this historic achievement possible. An especially big thanks to Industrial Graphics for installing the sign. Let this wall serve as lasting recognition of this commitment and as a sign of our gratitude.
