Finnish American Heritage Center

PASADENA, Calif. — Finlandia Foundation National will conduct its annual board meeting in Hancock from Thursday through Saturday, accompanied by a variety of free events that are open to the public.

It will be the first opportunity for the majority of FFN trustees to visit the properties that the volunteer board of directors voted unanimously to assume responsibility for with the 2023 closing of Finlandia University.

It is also a chance to celebrate the momentous “Saving Finland in America” campaign that inspired donors who raised funds to acquire the historical and cultural Finnish-American assets that faced an uncertain future.

The 71-year-old, non-profit FFN now owns the Finnish American Heritage Center and North Wind Books store on Quincy Street, as well as the Finnish American Historical Archive, Finlandia Art Gallery, Finnish American Folk School, Price of Freedom Museum and The Finnish American Reporter, all of which had been operated by the now-closed school.

The community is invited to attend four free events, including the “re-opening” of the Finnish American Heritage Center. All are welcome; if the weather doesn’t cooperate, the event will move indoors. The other events require RSVP at https://form.jotform.com/Finlandia_Foundation/HancockCelebration:

— Thursday: Kahvi ja Nisu meet and greet with FFN trustees and guests over Finnish pastries and coffee from Nisu Bakery & Cafe at Finnish American Heritage Center, 3 to 4:45 p.m. Easterm time;

— Friday: Finnish American Heritage Center Re-Opening, with ribbon-cutting ceremony, remarks, performances and flag raising, 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.;

— Friday: Heather Allen Hietala’s “Evolution” opening reception with refreshments at 7 p.m. and at 7:20 p.m. artist talk at Finlandia Art Gallery, Finnish American Heritage Center;

— Saturday: Hanna Pylvainen lecture and book signing from 3 to 5 p.m. with the author of “The End of Drum-Time,” hosted by North Wind Books at Chapel of St. Matthew, 532 W. Franklin St.

Finlandia Foundation National, Inc. is a non-profit founded in Pasadena in 1953 to support and promote Finnish-American interests and offer related programming, scholarships and grants.