David Abele

The Birchwood Project is inspired, in part, by cherished childhood memories of David’s family trips into the woods. He seeks to enable for others that same experience of centered connectedness — the feeling you get when you unwind and immerse yourself in nature, away from the city — when you enjoy outdoor adventures, gentle or vigorous, with friends and loved ones. David is also influenced by his strong Finnish heritage and culture. Finns are often known for their sisu — Finnish for stubbornness and a can-do spirit — a trait David has in spades. This persevering attitude combined with David’s deep Nordic love and appreciation for outdoor life, or friluftsliv, is the motivating force he brings to this project: a culmination of his two lifelong passions of philanthropy and property development.

David’s professional career spans more than 25 years with experience in residential real estate and related services. In addition to The Birchwood Project, David supports many charities including Ronald McDonald House, Children's Cancer Research Fund, Sharing & Caring Hands, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He is also the Board president of DIVAMN, a nonprofit group working in creative industries that are committed to raising money to impact HIV/AIDS in Minnesota.

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