The American Turkish Society's annual gala dinner celebrates the successful partnerships of American and Turkish corporations and honors the extraordinary business leaders that exemplify the U.S.-Turkish friendship and cooperation. Inaugurated in 2006, this special event is an outstanding example of what has been the American Turkish Society's mission since 1949 - to promote business, economic and cultural ties between Turkey and the United States. Proceeds from the gala dinner support The American Turkish Society's educational and cultural programs and activities.

The American Turkish Society Third Annual Gala Dinner, April 16, 2008
Honoring Jeffrey R. Immelt and Ferit F. Sahenk

The American Turkish Society awarded its Annual Corporate Partnership Award to Jeffrey R. Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE, and Ferit F. Şahenk, Chairman of Doğuş Group, at its 2008 Gala Dinner on April 16 at The Waldorf-Astoria in New York. The Gala celebrated the successful partnerships of GE and Doğuş Group in financial services and real estate, and their cooperation in media, in Turkey.

The 2008 Gala was attended by nearly 400 leading executives from both the American and Turkish business communities, as well as dignitaries from the U.S. and Turkish governments and select guests from the media, the arts, and academia. The event raised over $700,000 to benefit The American Turkish Society’s educational, cultural and philanthropic programs. Charles O. Holliday, Jr., Chairman and CEO of DuPont, and David J. Stern, Commissioner of The National Basketball Association, served as Dinner Committee Co-Chairmen, along with Mrs. Ahmet Ertegün as Honorary Chairwoman. Distinguished guests included Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Vecdi Gönül, Defense Minister of Turkey, Ross Wilson, Ambassador of U.S. to Turkey, Baki Ilkin, Ambassador of Turkey to the U.N., Rahmi M. Koç, Honorary Chairman of Koç Holding, Jeff Zucker, President and CEO, NBC Universal, and Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Doğuş Group and GE began working together in 2000, when the Doğuş Media Group established CNBC-e, a localized version of the world’s number one business news channel, CNBC, providing unique television coverage of Turkey’s economy and its blossoming business environment. In 2005, Doğuş and GE extended their strategic alliance to financial services through Garanti Bank, a Doğuş Group company that has grown into the second largest privately owned bank in Turkey, and a year later created Doğuş-GE REIT, focusing on real estate development in the region.

Platinum Benefactors of the gala, who contributed $25,000 or more, included, in addition to GE and Doğuş Group, American International Group (AIG), DuPont, Mrs. Ahmet Ertegün, JPMorgan Chase, Mr. and Mrs. Murat Köprülü, The National Basketball Association, NBC Universal, THL Partners, and the Turkish-U.S. Business Council (TAIK) of DEIK.

The American Turkish Society Second Annual Gala Dinner, May 7, 2007
Honoring Chuck Prince and Guler Sabanci

The American Turkish Society hosted its second annual gala dinner to celebrate the recent partnership of Citi and Sabanci Holding in Akbank, the most profitable banking institution in Turkey, at The Waldorf=Astoria in New York on May 7. The gala honored Charles Prince, Chairman and CEO of Citi, and Guler Sabanci, Chairperson and Managing Director of Sabanci Holding.

The gala was attended by leading executives from the American and Turkish business communities, as well as political and diplomatic dignitaries and select guests from academia and the arts. Prominent guests included former Senator Phil Gramm, Vice Chairman of UBS Investment Bank and Dinner Committee Chairman; Akbank board member Suzan Sabanci Dincer; Akbank General Manager Zafer Kurtul; Turkey's Permanent Representative to the U.N. H.E. Ambassador Baki Ilkin; Turkish Consul General in New York The Honorable Mehmet Samsar; and former World Bank president James Wolfensohn, among others.

The evening also included a memorial tribute to the late Ahmet Ertegun (1923-2006), founding chairman of Atlantic Records and chairman of the Society. A brief film honoring Mr. Ertegun was presented by Lawrence Kaye, The Society's Events Commitee Chairman, and Lyor Cohen, CEO of Warner Music Group's US Recorded Music. Mrs. Mica Ertegun, Honorary Chairwoman of the gala, was also present.

The American Turkish Society's annual gala dinners celebrate successful U.S. – Turkish corporate partnerships and the proceeds benefit the Society's programs and activities that aim to foster greater political, economic, and cultural ties between the two countries.

This year's gala raised over $500,000, thanks to the generous support of Citi, Sabanci and Akbank and other Platinum Benefactors UBS, Altria, American International Group (AIG), The Coca-Cola Company, Delta, International Paper, and Mrs. Mica Ertegun. Other companies and individuals who bought tables at the event included The Fairchild Corporation, Herrick, Feinstein LLP, Mr. and Mrs. Murat Koprulu, News Corporation, Archery Capital LLC, Baker & McKenzie LLP, DuPont, Joukowsky Family Foundation/Multilateral Funding International, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Kaye, Kiraca, Mr. Metin Negrin/Lexin Capital LLC, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Paramount Bio Capital, Inc., and Dr. and Mrs. Tamer Seckin.

The American Turkish Society Gala Dinner, March 29, 2006
Honoring William Clay Ford Jr. and Mustafa V. Koc

In 2006, the Society had its inaugural gala honoring one of the longest-standing and most successful Turkish-American partnerships – Ford Motor Company and Koc Holding and their 50-year-old joint venture, Ford Otosan in Turkey.

The event was attended by over 250 people. Distinguished guests included Honorees Bill Clay Ford and Mustafa V. Koc, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Ambassadors Nabi Sensoy and Ross Wilson, and gala Co-Chair Alfred Taubman.

The event raised over $400,000 with vital contributions from the honorees, members of our Board of Directors, corporate and individual members, and other friends of the Society. The proceeds will benefit the Society’s philanthropic programs and significantly expand educational and cultural initiatives.

Press coverage included New York Times, CNN Turk, and leading Turkish newspapers.