Thanks To Scandinavia Welcomes Consul General of Finland as Honorary Board Member
On the eve of its 40th anniversary, Thanks To Scandinavia welcomes Consul General Jukka Leino of Finland as Honorary Director, promising a further strengthening of relations between Finland, Americans, and Jews worldwide.
During his time as Consul General of Finland in New York, Mr. Leino has had extensive contact with the Thanks To Scandinavia foundation, which gives scholarships to students, teachers, and medical professionals from the Nordic countries for study in the United States and Israel. Mr. Leino has been working for the Finnish foreign service since 1974 and served as Finnish Ambassador to Singapore before coming to New York.
“We enthusiastically welcome Jukka Leino, the esteemed Consul General of Finland in New York, as Honorary Director of Thanks To Scandinavia, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2003,” said President of Thanks To Scandinavia Richard Netter. “The friendship between Finland and the Jewish community has an important history one that we hope to see continuing to grow today through educational opportunities and greater understanding. We consider Ambassador Leino a true friend, and are pleased through him to strengthen our contact and relations to Finland today.”
Last spring, Thanks To Scandinavia and the Finnish Embassy and Consulate General in New York sponsored two major programs in Washington, D.C. and New York highlighting the little known history of how Jews in Finland were saved during the Second World War. Ambassador Max Jakobson, a senior Finnish statesman, former Finnish Ambassador to the United Nations, and contender for the post of Secretary General of the UN, presented an historic speech at the events about his first-hand experience as a Finnish Jew and soldier for Finland during the war. Finnish vocalist and Thanks To Scandinavia scholarship recipient Paula Jaakkola gave a moving performance of Finnish, Hebrew, and English songs.
Created by Danish entertainer Victor Borge and New York attorney Richard Netter in 1963, Thanks To Scandinavia provides educational opportunities for young Scandinavians as a perpetual “thank you” to Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden for the protection and rescue of Scandinavian Jews during World War II. Through its annual distribution of over $250,000 in scholarships, Thanks To Scandinavia recalls the heroism and humanity of the Nordic countries and people and forges bridges of understanding.
As released by the Finnish Consul General in New York: Pääkonsuli Jukka Leinosta amerikanjuutalaisen järjestön kunniajäsen
Suomen New Yorkin pääkonsuli Jukka Leino on nimitetty Thanks to Scandinavia -järjestön johtokunnan kunniajäseneksi.
Thanks to Scandinavia on edesmenneen tunnetun tanskalaissyntyisen viihdyttäjän Victor Borgen ja newyorkilaisen lakimiehen Richard Netterin perustama järjestö, joka juhlii ensi vuonna 40-vuotista taivaltaan. Järjestö myöntää muun muassa opiskelustipendejä pohjoismaisille opiskelijoille ja opettajille Yhdysvaltoihin kiitokseksi siitä, miten Pohjoismaat kohtelivat juutalaisia toisen maailmansodan aikaan.
Thanks to Scandinavia kuuluu jäsenjärjestönä vaikutusvaltaiseen Amerikan juutalaiskomiteaan (American Jewish Comittee). Järjestön puheenjohtajana toimiva perustajajäsen Richard Netter katsoo pääkonsuli Leinon nimityksen vahvistavan suomalaisten ja juutalaisten välisiä suhteita.
Ohessa Netterin lausunto englanniksi:
“We welcome Jukka Leino, the esteemed Consul General of Finland in New York, as Honorary Director of Thanks To Scandinavia, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary of giving scholarships to students and teachers this year. In this position, Ambassador Leino will further contribute to strengthening the bonds of friendship between Finns and Jews worldwide — a friendship that has an important history and that we hope to see continuing to grow today through educational opportunities and greater understanding.”
Lisätietoja: (englanniksi) Rebecca Neuwirth, Thanks to Scandinavian toiminnanjohtaja, e-mail: Contact us, tel. (212) 891-1403
Jukka Leino, e-mail: jukka.leino@formin.fi, tel. (212) 750-4400
Liite: Pääkonsuli Jukka Leinon kuva sähköisesti
Feature
RSVP NOW! TTS Dinner Benefit on Feb 28
Thanks To Scandinavia is very excited to announce that on Tuesday, February 28th we will be hosting our very first dinner benefit at Swedish star chef Marcus Samuelsson’s hot new restaurant, Red Rooster. Rather than waiting for months to get a seat at this sold out restaurant, why not join us for an evening of [...]
Read More >>
Follow Us:
