Finlandia Fridays prepares to give thanks with #GivingTuesday

Kailee Laplander (’12) stopped by Finlandia Fridays this week to discuss an important tradition, #GivingTuesday.

As a 2012 alum now serving as Finlandia’s Executive Assistant to the President & Advancement Office, Laplander shares how #GivingTuesday raises money for Finlandia’s annual scholarship programs and how meaningful the tradition truly is.

“My heart really lies with our low-income and our first-generation students. I come from that perspective,” Laplander said. “As a student, I was a low-income first-generation student, and I spent my first eight years at Finlandia working for the TRIO grant that works with the low-income first-generation students.”

Scholarships, endowments and awards all help to make college affordable for current and future students. Laplander also speaks on how many students are impacted by scholarship support, which many people may not know.

“More than 50 percent of our students at Finlandia are PELL eligible, which means they are coming from a place of income need. They really need those scholarships, so without scholarships, their education is impossible. And I was in that place. If it wasn’t for the people that donated, I couldn’t have finished my education. And as an adult now, I look back and realize how many people it took to put me through college that I don’t even know.”

Finlandia plans to raise $30,000 this Giving Tuesday season. Officially marked for November 29, donations will be accepted at any point leading up to and on the day at finlandia.edu/givingtuesday.

Learn more and make your tax-deductible gift today by visiting our dedicated website below.

Learn More & Make Your Gift

DONATIONS FOR #GIVINGTUESDAY CAN BE MADE AT THE FOLLOWING

• Finlandia’s #GivingTuesday Page
• Via mail at 601 Quincy St Hancock, MI 49930
• By phone with Kailee Laplander at 906-487-7201