Turkish-American Entrepreneurs Eren and Fatih Ozmen Join Forces with Hamdi Ulukaya to Support Earthquake Relief Efforts in Turkiye (Turkey)
SPARKS, Nev. (Feb. 15, 2023) – Turkish-born entrepreneurs Eren and Fatih Ozmen, owners of Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), and Hamdi Ulukaya, CEO and founder of Chobani, are spearheading fundraising efforts to aid immediate and long-term relief efforts following the devastating earthquakes that rocked Turkiye and the surrounding region on February 6th.
The Ozmen family and Hamdi Ulukaya each made a $1M donation to the Turkiye Earthquake Relief Fund via Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF). Both have also pledged to match an additional $1M each for total combined support of up to $4M.
More than 36,000 have been killed and tens of thousands are injured after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake and hundreds of aftershocks shook southeastern Turkiye and the surrounding area. The earthquake impacted 10 provinces across the region and is the strongest in Turkiye in more the 80 years.
“Our hearts ache deeply for Turkiye and everyone impacted,” said Eren Ozmen, chairwoman and owner of SNC. “There is a significant and immediate need to support ongoing rescue efforts and to help survivors with basic essentials like food, clean water, medicine and shelter. I know Turkiye will rebuild stronger, but the road to recovery will be a long one. Please join Fatih and me to show the true collective power of community and humanity. Every little bit helps a country and region that is so much in need.”
Turkish Philanthropy Funds is working closely with partners on the ground, analyzing the need to provide immediate relief to survivors, and developing a comprehensive system for the long-term rebuilding efforts. Since establishing the fund, TPF raised more than $7.6M and has already distributed more than $1M to aid emergent relief efforts in the hardest hit areas.
“These are the times the business community must join governments and nonprofits to help people in need. And I am so proud to see how the US business community and Turkish Americans stepped up in the relief efforts after the devastating earthquakes hit Turkiye and the region. The recovery will be a long journey. So, continuous support is extremely important to rebuild lives who are desperately in need for the people in Turkiye,” said Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani Founder and CEO.
TPF will monitor the impact on affected communities and work with vetted partners and organizations to allocate funds where they’re needed most. Initially, the fund helps first responders meet survivors’ immediate needs for food, fuel, clean water, medicine, and shelter. As needs emerge, TPF will support longer-term recovery efforts run by local, vetted partner organizations in the impacted area(s).
“We are profoundly grateful for the support we have received both from the Ozmen family and Hamdi Ulukaya,” said Executive Director of Turkish Philanthropy Funds Senay Ataselim Yilmaz. “Their leadership has inspired and strengthened our sense of community during this difficult time. We thank them again for their noble commitment to rebuilding our cities back up."
Eren and Fatih Ozmen have a long-standing history of paying it forward. Through the Ozmen Family Office, the Ozmens support a variety of causes including STEM initiatives, medical research and educational scholarships. They also established the Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship and the Ozmen Institute for Global Studies at their alma mater, the University of Nevada, Reno.
Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF) is a leading community foundation in the US that is dedicated to Turkish and Turkish-American communities. Since its establishment in 2007, TPF has been leveraging its unique position and relationships to create partnerships that address a wide range of social and environmental needs, both in Turkey and around the world. TPF's focus on promoting effective philanthropy and its high ratings from leading charity evaluators, such as Charity Navigator and GuideStar, demonstrate its commitment to transparency, accountability, and impact. By working with individuals, families, and corporations, TPF is able to help create a culture of giving that has a positive impact on communities and causes globally.
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Media Contacts:
Turkish Philanthropy Funds
Selin Kapan-Green | selink@tpfund.org | 646-530-8988
Sierra Nevada Corporation
Ayse Caglar | ayse.caglar@sncorp.com | 775-849-6201
