Established in 1965, the Ekonen Orphan Care Foundation was founded on the bequest of Hilja Roosa Ekonen, a farm owner who passed away on January 28, 1964.
The foundation’s mission is to provide financial support to orphans and other children in need who are destitute or lack adequate care, focusing primarily on the municipality of Jämsä, but extending assistance to other regions where possible.
Grants may be awarded to children and young people who are orphans, live in single-parent families, or whose parents are, for example, on disability or sickness pensions.
The foundation has fulfilled its mission by awarding grants to orphans and other children in similar circumstances based on applications. Throughout its operations, it has distributed 3,162 grants, totaling €2,210,505 as of 2024.
Additionally, in 2020 and 2021, the foundation awarded grants of €10,000 each to ninth-grade students in Jämsä to support class trips, camp schools, or similar activities.
Foundation funds
The foundation’s income is generated from timber sales, dividends, interest, and rental revenue. It owns forest properties in Jämsä and Taivalkoski, as well as shares and housing cooperative apartments in Jyväskylä.
The foundation’s board of directors consists of Pertti Röman (chairman), Helena Myllymäki, Päivi Kumpunen and Hannu Weijo.
Contact information
Ekonen Orphan Care Foundation (Ekosen Orpohuoltosäätiö)
CEO Jouko Palmroth
palmroth.jouko@gmail.com
tel. +358 400-202060
Velisjärvi Camp Center
Velisjärventie 757, Kuhmoinen
Velisjärvi reservations:
Aleksi Lahtinen
aleksi.lahtinen@ekosenorpohuolto.fi
+358 400 273 888
Velisjärvi caretaker Erkki Salmio
+358 400 343 754
