Florida Estos

Nearly 30 members of the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts) gathered for a conversation with Toivo Tänavsuu on Saturday, April 30, 2016, from 4:00 to 6:00 (to 8:00) pm hosted by and at the home of Erkki Taada and Lisa Mets, who also serves as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Estonia, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Mr. Tänavsuu is an investigative journalist with Estonia’s weekly newspaper Eesti Ekspress. Mr. Tänavsuu engaged in a Question and Answer session about current events in Estonia: Who are Estonia’s newest immigrants? Is the threat from Russia real?

Mr. Tänavsuu also is the founder of “Kingitud elu” (gift of life), Estonia’s largest charitable organization. In just two years, the organization has raised over a million dollars and supported 90 individuals seeking cancer treatments that are not covered by state insurance. Those treatments have given patients the gift of extra precious time among their loved ones, hence the name of the charitable organization. Mr. Tänavsuu gave a moving presentation that told the story of his mother’s courageous battle with life-ending cancer and that recounted the founding and current success of Kingitud Elu, Estonia’s most successful philanthropic organization to date.

Mr. Tänavsuu and members of his family are on a 12-day whirlwind visit to Texas, Florida, and Illinois, and we are delighted the Estonian Society of Central Florida (Kesk Florida Eesti Selts (KFES)) caught their attention.