Charitable
Activities
ATASC members
make important contributions to improve the lives of people in the
United States and Turkey. Here are some of the programs ATASC is actively
involved in.
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| School
in Izmit, Turkey |
May
2003-Present
|
On
August 17, 1999, western Turkey was struck by a devastating magnitude-7.4 earthquake.
Many thousands of people were killed, and many more made homeless by
the quake that was centered near Izmit.
Contributing
to the rebuilding process, ATASC initiated an effort in February 2003
to build a new school for the children of Izmit. Phase One of the project,
construction of the building exterior, was completed in May 2003. The
Izmit municipality joined the effort by providing electricity,
heating, water, sewage and landscaping to the school site.
The school
admitted its first class on September 13, 2004.
Click here to
go to the exclusive news page for the school!
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|
| Blind
Children’s Learning Center |
June
2003
|
On
Monday, June 23, 2003, the board of the newly formed Turkish American
Ladies League (“TALL”), a chapter of the American Turkish
Association of Southern California (“ATASC’), drove to
Santa Ana and presented their first charitable contribution to the Blind
Children’s Learning Center.
President and 2002 Grammy Semi-finalist in classical music, Demetra
George Mustafoglu shared her vocal talents as she entertained and
played with over 50 children ages 6 months to 6 years. They loved the
Disney songs and selections from The Sound of Music and even joined in
singing, dancing and clapping their hands.
Board Vice-Presidents Nuket Cehreli, Aylin Ereren, Ilgin Gallo and Ayse
Goren baked Turkish pastries and brought them for the children to sample.
Even Demetra’s parents visiting from Florida baked kurabiye, the
powdered sugar cookies for the kids.
Carolyn Baker, Director of Development of the school, and coordinator
of the day, and the lovely and talented accompanist Elizabeth Williams
met the board. After the performance, TALL presented President Stacey
Procter with a check for the school and one of Demetra’s cds, “Demetra
George Sings Love Arias” for the children to check out. Pictures
were taken and lots of hugs were exchanged.
The Blind Children’s Learning Center is the sister school of the
Gaziantep School for the Blind in southern Turkey. Dr. Erkan Ereren,
Ilgin Gallo and Ayse Goren began this endeavor over a year ago and today,
it went full circle with the check presentation on this side of the Atlantic.
BCLC was instrumental in assisting with selection of Braille computer
equipment for Gaziantep’s students so TALL was thrilled to be able
to reciprocate. “BCLC is determined to help children and youth
overcome the odds and become self-sufficient. The new Technology Center
will open doors for blind, visually impaired and deaf/blind students.” TALL
is proud to play a role in the endeavors of BCLC.
|
| Gaziantep
School for the Blind |
June
2003
|
| In
2002, ATASC raised sufficient funds to purchase seven computers, an HP
5400 Scanner, an HP 3420 printer and windows program from the Spectrum
Company in Gaziantep, plus a double-sided ET Braille Printer, and a Jaws
for windows program (in English with Turkish translation) and Synthesizer
from Braille Teknik of Istanbul. In June of 2003, these hardware and
software components were delivered and suucessfuly installed in two schools
for blind children in Gaziantep, Turkey, where they are now used by a
combined total of over 240 children. |
| Charity
Golf Tournament for ALS |
July
2003
|
This
year is the 100th Birthday anniversary of the NY Yankee baseball legend
Lou Gehrig. ALS is
working to bring greater awareness to the community of the disease. Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), that took both Lou's life and his name, attacks
the body’s motor neurons, or nerve cells, and proves fatal within
an average of two to five years. As motor neurons are destroyed, a person
with ALS loses his or her ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe.
If we solve the mystery of ALS, we will learn what we need to know about
other devastating brain diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s
and Huntington’s, which afflict over six million people.
We have agreed to participate on Monday, July 21st 2003 in an ALS sponsored
Charity Golf Tournament at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake. We will assist
at the boutique and with games. They have requested a list of names, phone
and addresses of the volunteers in order to forward all details. They have
also requested that TALL pose for a photo for the national ALS magazine.
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