The American Turkish Society

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About Us

Mission

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

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 nearly 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 a complete history of The American Turkish Society, please download “A Short History of the American Turkish Society“

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Board of Directors

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

Ms. Emily Altman
JPMorgan & Co.

Ms. Gülnaz Arıcanlı
Morgan Stanley & Co.

Mr. Edward T. Cloonan
American International Group (AIG)

Aydin S. Çağinalp, Esq.
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

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. Brian Henderson
Merrill Lynch & Co.

Mr. Muhtar Kent
The Coca-Cola Company

Mrs. Elbrun Kimmelman
Foreign Policy Association

Mr. Murad Megalli
JPMorgan & Co.

Mr. Metin Negrin*
Treasurer
Lexin Capital LLC

Mr. Benjamin Ostrom
Citi

Mehmet C. Öz, MD
Columbia Presbyterian Hospital

Laurence Pettit, Esq.*
Chairman of the Education Committee
Baker & McKenzie LLP

Tamer Seçkin, MD
Chairman of the Cultural Expansion Initiative Committee
Park East Gynecology & Surgery

Mr. Jeffrey Steiner
The Fairchild Corporation

Mr. A. Ümit Taftalı
Vice Chairman
Suna And İnan Kıraç Foundation

Mrs. Berrin Tekiner-Aykal
Bremen House

Mrs. Shirin Devrim Trainer
Actress, Author

Mr. Hüseyin Ünver
EXSA Americas Inc.

* Executive Committee Member

Honorary Members

His Excellency Baki İlkin
Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations

His Excellency Nabi Şensoy
Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United States

His Excellency Ross Wilson
Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the United States to Turkey

The Honorable Mehmet Samsar
Turkish Consul General to New York

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Staff

Selen Uçak, Executive Director, comes to The American Turkish Society with significant experience in social enterprise. In addition to her duties at the Society, she recently completed a feasibility study for a new community foundation called the Turkish Philanthropic Fund and continues to be involved in its start-up phase. Previously, she was a Research Associate at the Research Initiative on Social Entrepreneurship of Columbia Business School, studying and co-authoring a report on for-profit social ventures. Prior to that, she was a Program Officer at Tiger Foundation, making grants to anti-poverty nonprofits in New York City. As a student at Columbia Business School between 2001- 2003, Selen was the President of the Social Enterprise Club, an organizer of the Global Social Venture Competition, and a teaching assistant for the school's social entrepreneurship course. She also worked as a Business Development/ Marketing Strategy intern at Endeavor Global, which promotes entrepreneurship in emerging markets, including in Turkey. Prior to her graduate studies, 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 German.

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Supporters

The American Turkish Society appreciates the generous support of the following individuals and companies (in addition to membership fees).

2006-2007

$50,000 +
American International Group (AIG)
Citi
Sabancı Holding

$25,000 - $49,999
Altria Group, Inc.
Baker & McKenzie LLP
The Coca-Cola Company
Delta Air Lines
Mrs. Mica Ertegün
International Paper Company
Mr. and Mrs. Murat Köprülü/ Joukowsky Family Foundation
Merrill Lynch
UBS Investment Bank

$10,000 - $24,999
Akbank
Archery Capital LLC
Deloitte
DuPont
The Fairchild Corporation
Herrick, Feinstein LLP
Kıraça
Lexin Capital LLC
News Corporation
Dr. Mehmet Öz
Paramount Biocapital, Inc.
Mr. Peter Peterson
Dr. and Mrs. Tamer Seçkin

$5,000 - $9,999
Bechtel
Mrs. Shirin Devrim and Mr. Robert Trainer
Ms. Linda Wachner
Warner Music Group

$1,000 - $4,999
Ms. Cigdem Acar, Acar Law Firm PLLC
Apparel Trading Company
The Carlyle Group
Özgen Doğan, MD
EXSA Americas Inc.
Ms. Geraldine Fox
Global Securities (USA), Inc.
Professor Talat Halman
David L. Helfet, MD
Mr. Niv Herzikowitz
Mr. Korkmaz İlkorur
HSBC
Mrs. Elbrun Kimmelman
Mrs. Marianna Koval
Dr. Ugur Köylüoğlu, Oliver Wyman
Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich
Ms. Bilge Öğüt and Mr. Haro Cumbusyan
Ms. Scarlett Pildes
PricewaterhouseCooper
Ramerica International, Inc.
Mr. Morris Roso
Mr. Cengiz and Mrs. Hala Şanli
Socotab-Durham Company
ESBAŞ/ Space Camp Turkey
Mr. Çağatay Ulaş
Mr. Doğan and Mrs. Nükhet Uygur
Mr. Walter Wick
The Young Turks

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Reports & Newsletters

For recent press releases and media coverage, please click here.

2006-2007 Annual Report

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Contact

The American Turkish Society
3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212.583.7614
Fax: 212.583.7615

For all inquires about membership, events, and other activities, please email us at info@americanturkishsociety.org

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