A new foundation has been established by Sakari Alhopuro, the founder and long-time owner of the former Pulssi Medical Centre in Turku. The principal funds for the Foundation include the proceeds from the sale of Pulssi and investment returns on those proceeds. The proceeds from the sale of Pulssi were invested, in their entirety, in publicly traded Finnish companies. The assets of the Foundation currently total approximately EUR 42 million.

The aim of the Foundation bearing the name of its founder, Sakari Alhopuro (who carries the Finnish honorary title of Lääkintöneuvos), is to promote and support high-quality medical research, multidisciplinary environmental research, biodiversity and environmental protection, cultural and social well-being in Finland, and economic education and entrepreneurism.

‘The Foundation provides grants and awards to commendable researchers and high-level projects. The application instructions and application period will be published on the Foundation’s website in January’, says Alhopuro.

‘Pulssi’s success story was originally achieved through the efforts and commitment of its near 500-strong personnel, which earned the company a place among the country’s largest private medical centres. The Foundation was founded as a means of advancing the well-being of humankind, nature and our society, but it is also a certain kind of tribute to each and every person who contributed to the success of Pulssi.’

Carita Rantanen, M.Sc. (Econ.) was appointed as Managing Director of the Sakari Alhopuro Foundation. The position of Chairman of the Board will be assumed by Sakari Alhopuro and the position of Vice Chairman by Pentti Huovinen, Professor of Bacteriology at the University of Turku. Additionally, Ilppo Vuorinen, Professor emeritus of Environmental Research at the University of Turku, and Jyri Heinonen, LL.M. with court training, will serve as members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

The foundation will commence its activities in January 2020.

Further information:

Sakari Alhopuro, Chairman of the Board for the Sakari Alhopuro Foundation
tel. +358 40 052 1019, sakari.alhopuro@sakarialhopuronsaatio.fi

Carita Rantanen, Managing Director of the Sakari Alhopuro Foundation
tel. +358 40 5039 609, carita.rantanen@sakarialhopuronsaatio.fi

Sakari Alhopuro is a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, the former entrepreneurial owner of Pulssi Medical Centre and, currently, a major donor. Prior to establishing the Foundation, Alhopuro had already donated a total of approximately EUR 4.8 million to science and education. Alhopuro has been granted the Finnish honorary title of Lääkintöneuvos.  In 2016, Sakari Alhopuro was conferred the title of Honorary Doctor of Economic Sciences from the Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku.