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| About Us |
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| Mission |
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Founded in 1949, The American Turkish Society is America’s oldest not-for-profit organization seeking to enhance economic, political, and cultural ties between Turkey and the United States.
The American Turkish Society achieves its mission by bringing together leaders in government, including Prime Ministers, Ministers of State and Ambassadors, as well as business leaders, journalists, artists, and scholars covering a spectrum of fields. In addition, the Society sponsors educational programs such as the Global Educators Program in partnership with the American Field Service; other similar programs are currently under development. Moreover, the Society has always answered the need for philanthropy especially in the form of disaster relief in Turkey, most prominently through our very successful 1999 Earthquake Relief program.
The American Turkish Society is a 501-c-3 tax exempt not-for-profit organization. All contributions to the Society are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. |
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| History |
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On June 29, 1949, eight men gathered in New York to announce the establishment of The American Turkish Society. At the time, none of them could have guessed that it would last nearly six decades and boast so many success stories. The organization came to life at the end of a long and tumultuous decade that saw the end of World War II. The Society’s founding members were Selim Sarper, Ernest Jacks, Asa W. Jennings, Lewis R.Cohen, Charles R. Wylie and three Turkish representatives, ex-officio. These eight men knew the world was on the verge of a new horizon. In 1947 they had seen the Marshall Plan begin; in 1949, it was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Clearly a better relationship between Turkey and the U.S. would benefit both nations.
In the six decades since then, The American Turkish Society has known the excitement of hosting prime ministers, ambassadors, and top business executives in order to commemorate and offer insights into the long-standing relations between the two nations. The Society has also celebrated satisfying achievements in education, culture, and humanitarian aid programs.
For more information on the history of The American Turkish Society, please visit our 60th Anniversary page |
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| Board of Directors |
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Mr. Murat Köprülü*
Chairman
Multilateral Funding International
Murat Köprülü is Chairman & CEO of Multilateral Funding International (MFI), a New York based emerging markets investment and financial advisory firm, which he founded in 1987. He is also Managing Partner of MFI's brokerage affiliate, MFI Securities, L.P. MFI specializes in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Eastern Mediterranean Rim.
Mr. Köprülü worked at the World Bank from 1980 through 1983 at the Turkey Desk and the Egypt Desk. From 1983 to 1986, Mr. Köprülü was Managing Director of IntraLink, Ltd., an international trade finance advisory firm. In 1996, MFI established a global opportunity fund, Eurasian Capital Partners Fund. Mr. Köprülü is the President of the General Partner of this fund. In 2002, he co-founded Quest Select Fund, L.P., which invests in global emerging markets.
In addition to Chairman of The American Turkish Society, Mr. Köprülü is a member of the US-Turkey Business Development Council, the Council on Foreign Relations, and The Bretton Woods Committee.
Mr. Köprülü holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Maryland, a Masters degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and an M.Phil in International Trade and Finance from Columbia University. He was presented with an Award of Excellence in 2004 from the International Center in New York. He is proficient in Spanish and fluent in English, Turkish and French. He is married, with two children. He is a U.S. citizen and lives in New York City.
Lawrence M. Kaye, Esq.*
Vice Chairman; Chairman of the Events Committee
Herrick, Feinstein LLP
Mr. A. Ümit Taftalı
Vice Chairman
Suna And İnan Kıraç Foundation
Aydın S. Çağınalp, Esq.
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Mr. Terry Caloghiris
DuPont
Mr. Haluk Dinçer
Sabancı Holding
Özgen Doğan, MD
Columbia Presbyterian Hospital
Ms. Nur Emirgil
Ramerica International
Dr. Ahmet D. Erelçin
HSBC
Professor Talat S. Halman
Bilkent University
Mr. Muhtar Kent
The Coca-Cola Company
Mrs. Elbrun Kimmelman
Foreign Policy Association
Mr. Murad Megalli
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Mr. Metin Negrin*
Treasurer
Lexin Capital LLC
Mehmet C. Öz, MD
Columbia Presbyterian Hospital
Laurence Pettit, Esq.*
Chairman of the Education Committee
Baker & McKenzie LLP
Tamer Seçkin, MD
Chairman of the Arts and Culture Committee
Park East Gynecology & Surgery
Mrs. Berrin Tekiner-Aykal
Bremen House
Mrs. Shirin Devrim Trainer
Actress, Author
Mr. Kaya Tuncer
ESBAŞ
* Executive Committee Member
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| Honorary Members |
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His Excellency Baki İlkin
Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations
His Excellency Nabi Şensoy
Ambassador of Turkey to the United States
His Excellency James Jeffrey
Ambassador of the United States to Turkey
The Honorable Mehmet Samsar
Turkish Consul General to New York
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| Staff |
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Selen Uçak, Executive Director, since 2006, has significant experience in social enterprise. Previously, she worked as an international philanthropy consultant; a Research Associate at the Research Initiative on Social Entrepreneurship of Columbia Business School; and a Program Officer at Tiger Foundation, making grants to anti-poverty nonprofits in New York City. During her graduate studies, she served as a Development/ Marketing Strategy intern at Endeavor Global, which promotes entrepreneurship in emerging markets, including in Turkey. Prior to that, she was the Assistant Director and a Research Fellow in macroeconomics at the Jerome Levy Forecasting Center. Selen holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School as the first Tashman Turkish Fellow and a B.A. in Economics/International Affairs, summa cum laude, from Colorado College. A native of Turkey, she also speaks some German and French.
Doğa (Dee) Kayalar, Program Coordinator, holds an M.P.A. from Indiana University and a B.A. from Bilkent University, both in international relations. She previously worked as Executive Assistant to Turkey's Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the United Nations. During her graduate studies, she served as a Program Officer in convention planning and an Associate Instructor of International Policy. She was also a research fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Economics, focusing on the impact of public policy on entrepreneurship. She currently volunteers with Bilkent University Alumni Association (Bilumni) and her high school alumni association, TED USA, which she helped found in 2008.
Amy Nazer, Administrative and Program Assistant, holds a B.A. in Political Science and Human Rights from Columbia University. She has interned at a number of non-profit organizations in New York and Washington, D.C. in the fields of development, women’s rights, and immigration. Amy completed a year-long student exchange program in Kocaeli, Turkey, and has studied Turkish literature at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Turkey.
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| Supporters |
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The American Turkish Society appreciates the generous support of the following individuals and companies.
2008-09
$50,000 +
Akbank
Anadolu Group
The Coca-Cola Company
Joukowsky Family Foundation / Nina Joukowsky Köprülü and Murat Köprülü
$25,000 - $49,999
Doğan Group
Doğuş Group / Garanti Bank
Mrs. Ahmet Ertegün
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Kıraça
Koç Holding A.Ş.
Mandarin Oriental Dellis Cay
The National Basketball Association
Sabancı Holding
TAİK (Turkish-American Business Council) of DEİK
$10,000 - $24,999
Baker & McKenzie LLP
Herrick, Feinstein LLP, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence M. Kaye
Mr. Metin Negrin, Lexin Capital LLC
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center
Dr. and Mrs. Mehmet Öz
Ramerica Foundation
Dr. and Mrs. Tamer Seçkin
Starcom MediaVest Group
Sucocitrico Cutrale Ltda
Turkish Airlines
Universal McCann
Wyse Technology, Inc.
Yıldız Holding
$5,000 - $9,999
AIU Holdings, Inc.
Bedminster Capital Management LLC
Eczacıbaşı Group
Kekst and Company
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Mack
Mr. James D. Robinson III
Mrs. Shirin Devrim Trainer and Mr. Robert Trainer
$1,000 - $4,999
Acar Law Firm LLP
Adnan Akant
Ali Baba Restaurant
Mr. and Mrs. Mustafa and Işık Aşur
BankPozitif
Beverage Digest
Ms. Yıldız Blackstone
Bloomberg LP
Brain-Twist, Inc.
Credit Suisse Group
Çalık Holding
Mr. Kayhan Civelek
Emel Dilek and Ron Pecunies, Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich
Dr. Özgen Doğan
DuPont
Durukan Telekomünikasyon Danışmanlık
EFG Istanbul Securities
Mr. Serkan Elden
Ms. Nur Ercan, The Marmara Manhattan
Ms. Geraldine Dietz Fox, NOHRF
Garanti Securities
Ms. Tulû Gümüstekin
Havelsan
ING Bank Turkey
Mr. Tolga İşmen
Mr. and Mrs. Barbaros Karaahmetoğlu
Ms. Aslı Karahan-Ay, UBS
Mrs. Elbrun Kimmelman
Meow Inc. DBA Rebecca Taylor
Mineks International
Multilateral Funding International
NAI Global
Sadi Özelge, Ph.D.
Mr. Rasih Öztürkmen
Pera Mediterranean Brasserie
Pfizer Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Pildes
Mr. Martin Pompadur
Ramerica International
Relight USA
Mr. Jeffrey Rosen
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Socotab Frana SA
Sotheby's
Sunset International (Istikbal Furniture)
Taciroğlu Group
Mr. Yılmaz Temizocak, İzmir Development Agency
Mr. and Mrs. Uğur Terzioğlu
Mr. and Mrs. Kaya and Mary Tuncer
Mr. Hüseyin Ünver
Mr. Beşir Üstaoğlu
Mr. Halstead Wells
White & Case LLP
Yaşar Holding
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| Reports & Newsletters |
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For recent press releases and media coverage, please click here.
The American Turkish Society Overview
Programs and Activities 2007-2008
Programs and Activities 2006-2007
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| Contact |
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The American Turkish Society
3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212.583.7614
Fax: 212.583.7615
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For all inquires about membership, events, and other activities,
please email us at info@americanturkishsociety.org |
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