American Turkish Society

The American Turkish Society

Established	June 29, 1949; 75 years ago (1949-06-29)
Mission	To enhance business, economic, and cultural and artistic ties between Turkey and the United States.
Chair	Suzan Sabancı Linda J. Wachner
Address	66 Meserole Avenue, Brooklyn
Location	New York, United States
Website	americanturkishsociety.org

The American Turkish Society (ATS) is the oldest non-for-profit, apolitical organization based in America dedicated to building bridges between the United States and Turkey. The Society hosts a broad spectrum of programming, including lectures, workshops, symposia, conferences, festivals, performances, and exhibitions that highlight topics of relevance to the Turkish-American community and help to promote Turkish arts and culture in the United States.

Over the past six decades, The American Turkish Society has played a crucial role in enhancing diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties between the two countries. It has hosted numerous high-profile events featuring prime ministers, ambassadors, and top business executives, providing a platform for discussing and celebrating the long-standing relationship between Turkey and the U.S. The Society has also made significant contributions to fields such as education, culture, and humanitarian aid, marking it as a key player in international relations and cultural exchange.

The American Turkish Society was founded on June 29, 1949, in New York by a group of eight individuals.^[1] Their goal was to establish an organization that would foster better relations between Turkey and the United States, recognizing the mutual benefits of a strengthened alliance amid significant global events such as the end of World War II, the launch of the Marshall Plan in 1947, and the formation of NATO in 1949.

On June 29, 1949, eight individuals including Selim Sarper, Ernest Jackh, Asa Jennings, Lewis Owen, Charles Wylie, and three Turkish representatives convened in New York to establish The American Turkish Society. The founding of ATS occurred after a decade marked by the end of World War II, a period during which these visionaries recognized the potential for a new global landscape.

Selim Sarper, the first president of ATS, was instrumental in launching several key initiatives during the 1950s. These included the establishment of the Center for Turkish Studies at Columbia University within the new Near and Middle East Institute. The society also facilitated a Turkish Arts Exhibition, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Turkish government, which was showcased in five American cities. Their efforts extended to humanitarian aid as well, including conducting a blood drive for troops in Korea and assisting Turkish expellees from Bulgaria. Moreover, the society expanded its reach by establishing a Washington branch and collaborating with the Turkish-American Women's Cultural Society in Ankara. These actions exemplified the society's commitment to promoting Turkish culture and strengthening Turkey-U.S. relations on multiple fronts.

In 1961, the Society decided to establish a permanent office with dedicated staff, leading to its first Board of Directors meeting at its new office on Madison Avenue. Betty R. Guyer was appointed as the first Assistant Secretary. During this period, ATS intensified its efforts to grow its membership, successfully doubling its numbers to 263 by the mid-1960s, and hosting numerous activities.

The 1970s marked a high point in membership engagement, with the Society reaching 263 individual members and 47 corporate members, including prominent companies including Philip Morris which joined in 1977. ATS hosted various significant events, including an annual luncheon at the Hotel Pierre in 1974, featuring prominent Turkish industrialists like Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı and Vehbi Koç as speakers. In 1979, the organization underwent a restructuring, with Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun becoming chairman, a position he held until his death in 2006.

The early 1980s were characterized by a focus on Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with programs exploring his impact on visual arts, contemporary views, and women's liberation during his period.^[2] The political landscape shifted dramatically in 1983 with Turgut Özal's rise to Prime Minister, emphasizing the American-Turkish relationship and encouraging American investment in Turkey. ATS responded by sponsoring the Annual American Turkish Business Conferences starting in 1982, promoting economic ties and reporting on significant increases in Turkish exports to the U.S.

The 1990s were a period of cooperation with other NGOs, particularly following the devastating 1999 earthquake in Turkey. ATS engaged in several humanitarian efforts, including The Life Project, The Sister School Project, and the construction of the Yalova Elementary School and the Yeni Mahalle Day Care Center. These activities were part of a broader initiative to support earthquake victims and facilitate recovery. Prominent Turkish officials, including Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel, then-State Minister of Economic Affairs Tansu Çiller, and President Turgut Özal, participated in ATS events, underscoring the organization's significant role in fostering Turkish-American relations.

In 2006, ATS launched its Annual Gala, a celebration of successful collaborations between American and Turkish companies, inaugurating with a tribute to the 50-year partnership between Ford Motor Company and Koç Holding.^[3]

The same year marked significant losses for the Society with the deaths of its long-standing vice-chairman, Arif Mardin, on June 25, and chairman, Ahmet Ertegun, on December 14. Their contributions had been central to the Society's influence and reach.

Entering the 2010s, ATS intensified its efforts with robust programming. It introduced the Ahmet Ertegun Memorial Scholarship and the Arif Mardin Fellowship, and in collaboration with The School of Visual Arts, it established a scholarship program that annually funds a Turkish artist to attend SVA’s Summer Residency Program in New York, providing them exposure to the city's vibrant art scene.

In 2011, ATS expanded its cultural footprint by acquiring the Moon and Stars Project (MASP) Grants, taking over the management of this grants program and the renowned New York Turkish Film Festival.^[4] In 2019, ATS co-founded The Promising Turks Fund with The Turkish-American Association, designed to support Turkish students in the U.S. across various fields including Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics (STEAM), and international relations, further enhancing its educational initiatives.

• Suzan Sabancı, Chairwoman of Akbank (Co-chair)^[5]
• Linda Wachner, Former president and CEO of Warnaco Group (Co-chair)
• Banu Basar, Turkey Country Executive of Bank of America (Vice Co-chair)
• Kerem Kamışlı, Board member of Esas Holding (Vice Co-chair)
• Metin Negrin, Founder and president of Lexin Capital (Vice Co-chair & Treasurer)
• Barbaros Karaahmet, Chief Operating Partner of Herrick, Feinstein LLP
• Orcun Dogancali, Former legal manager at beIN MEDIA GROUP (Executive Director)
• Nevzat Aydın, Founder of Yemeksepeti
• Eren Bali, Founder of Udemy and Carbon Health
• Andrew L. Cohen, Executive Chairman of JP Morgan Global Private Bank
• Selin Gulcelik, Head of Gulcelik Family Funds
• Ahmet Okumus, CIO of RPD Fund Management
• Ertem Osmanoglu, Principal of Risk & Financial Advisory at Deloitte
• Pelin Akın Özalp, Board member of Akfen Holding
• Murat Özyeğin, Board member of FIBA Holding
• Tamer Seckin, Founder of Endometriosis Foundation of America
• Can Kendi, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company
• Saad Toma, General Manager of IBM Middle East and Africa
• Cem Topcuoglu, President of Omnicom CEE&AME
• Cenk Ulu, Senior Partner at PwC
• Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, Chairwoman of Doğan Holding
• Zeynep Yenel, Turkey country director of Goldman Sachs
• Yesim Philip, Founder of L'Etoile Sport

The Society presents seasonal gatherings, lectures, panels and webinars that cover a variety of cultural, historical, economic and educational topics that surround U.S.-Turkey relations and run parallel with The Society’s mission.^[6]

The American Turkish Society provides several scholarships, grants, and awards to students, educators, and artists, in the United States and Turkey. Scholarships include The Ahmet Ertegun Memorial Scholarship at The Juilliard School, The Arif Mardin Music Fellowship at Berklee College of Music and Summer Residency Program at the School of Visual Arts.

The Society’s Moon and Stars Project (MASP) grants are dedicated to highlighting Turkey's arts and culture scene and establishing a two-way cultural interaction between the United States and Turkey. The Society awards competitive grants to support emerging and established artists in an effort to promote this cross-cultural dialogue.

The New York Turkish Film Festival (NYTFF) was founded by the Moon and Stars Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to highlighting the changing face of Turkish arts and culture in 1999. Ever since its foundation, The Society was proud to support and sponsor NYTFF. In 2009, The Moon and Stars Project started operating under the umbrella of ATS. In addition to showcasing Turkish films, the festival comprises workshops and Q&A’s featuring filmmakers, film directors and actors/actresses who are invited from Turkey to participate in the festival.

In 2011, The American Turkish Society launched The Young Society Leaders (YSL), a key program of The Society that recognizes the most outstanding young leaders accomplished in their respective fields such as business, law, medicine, journalism, international affairs, academia, the arts, and design. YSLs are all dedicated to furthering the mission of The Society and improving the future of US-Turkish business, diplomatic and cultural ties by sharing skills, professional expertise, and network with impact and increased reach. Specifically, the YSL program has three objectives: to build a diverse community of peers; to nurture and support the next generation of leaders for The Society and the community at large; and to positively influence issues that impact matters related to the American-Turkish community.

The Society launched the Next Generation Council (NGC) in 2021. The purpose of the NGC is to engage young and less experienced members with strong future potential to be involved with The American Turkish Society and prepare them as potential future Board members. The Council works very closely with the Board and the Executive Committee and undertakes important responsibilities assigned to it by the Board.

The Society inaugurated its Annual Gala dinner in 2006 to celebrate successful joint ventures between American and Turkish corporations, starting with the 50-year partnership of Ford Motor Company and Koç Holding in Turkey. Our celebrations have since highlighted the partnerships of Citi and Sabancı Holding; General Electric and Doğuş Group; The Coca-Cola Company and Anadolu Group; Turkcell's ten years on the New York Stock Exchange; Turner Broadcasting Systems and Doğan Media Group. In 2013 we celebrated our 65th anniversary with a Gala on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. In 2015, The Society expanded the conversation by recognizing philanthropic and humanitarian accomplishments by honoring Hüsnü Özyeğin, Founder and Chairman of FIBA Holding and Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO of Chobani. Since then, The Society has honored the Endometriosis Foundation of America, Yemeksepeti, Dr. Oz, the Vehbi Koç Foundation and most recently, Mica and Ahmet Ertegün in 2021. As The Society’s main fundraising event, the dinner raises support for our educational and cultural programs, including scholarships, exchanges, residencies, cultural performances, lectures, and grants.   

• U.S.-Turkey Business Council
• Turkish Coalition of America
• Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans
• Turkey–United States relations

• The American Turkish Society (Official Website)