In 2018 a small group of professionals at Microsoft came together to discuss the idea of creating a Giving Circle among the Turkish-American community. They wanted to establish a collaborative effort in which they could work together, gather contributions, educate members about the power of collective philanthropy, and provide opportunities for hands-on involvement in awarding grants and making social investments. Seattle Giving Circle, a Fund of TPF, was formed with this mission in mind. Over the years, the circle has grown into a group where members share ideas and bond over similar interests. Their driving force is the same: using their good fortune to benefit thousands of others who are not as fortunate and establishing a habit of giving among Turkish-Americans.

Circle members have different motivations for joining. For some, it is a culture they have learned from their families. In many of their homes, they watched their parents and grandparents offer what they could, whether material or emotional support, to others in need. Irem Aydin always felt fortunate for the love and support she and her siblings received and the values they were taught. “My parents provided me with the roots and fundamental base to give more and be more open. Practicing love is very important, and they taught us to have a strong work ethic and drive. Personally, I believe working hard and giving go hand in hand. If you don’t have the work ethic and drive to do more, you can’t give. There is a strong bond between work ethic and giving, in my opinion.” But it was not until she moved to the U.S. for her master’s degree at Michigan State University that she learned the word “philanthropy” and how she can give back. Burcu Nemutlu has the same kind of upbringing, where her parents – both teachers – were very involved in charity events. As she watched them give back to the community and the students in need, she held onto the hope that she would, in turn, be able to give back and help others in the future. Her desires came true with her introduction to the Seattle Giving Circle.

Circle members’ drive to give back comes from their personal experiences. In her final year at MSU, Irem Aydin couldn’t secure a graduate assistantship role and faced financial hardship until she landed a scholarship after several applications. Since then, Irem knew she wanted to help others who have come to the U.S. with an assistantship or a scholarship. She notes, “sometimes those funds are not enough, and then you struggle to make ends meet and lose focus on your studies. I don’t want students to be deterred because of finances… I want them to have the support they need to rise up.” For Burcu Nemutlu, her desire to give back amplified once she became a mother. “I want to help the children who are less fortunate succeed and reach their goals in life.” The importance of education was always something Burcu was aware of. “My passion for giving is education, especially for girls education and girls in STEM. I would like to see more students, especially girls, complete their education. Perhaps, this is because my parents were teachers; that is even more important to me because I have seen what quality education can do for the development of a child.” Sehribani Oktay was also driven by her personal experience growing up. “The experience when you’re a kid is the most influential. Whatever you learn and are provided as a kid sets you up for your life. Coming from a low-income family, my life changed when I had success on an exam and was able to go to a better school. The connections I made changed my perspective and outlook for life.” And now, as a mother, she sees a chance to not only give these opportunities to her own children but to as many children as possible in Turkey. Microsoft’s giving culture definitely influenced many of the circle members. TPF’s open platform, combined with the encouraging philanthropic culture at Microsoft along with the matching gifts, turned Seattle Circle into a big success. “I am grateful to TPF for the guidance and support they provided during the partnership onboarding, which in turn made it possible for me to collect more with Seattle Circle’s match and invest in kids’ education in Turkey. TPF connects people to the causes that they care about and provides a great bridge that gives us the ability to give to areas that are meaningful for us back home in Turkey,” notes Burcu Nemutlu.

This network of eager philanthropists came together to give back to their homeland and built a philanthropic bond not only with each other but also with Turkish Philanthropy Funds. They aim to leverage collective resources to encourage philanthropy and community service among Turkish-Americans in Seattle. Many of the members came to know one another by working at Microsoft and asking where and how others give, which introduced them to TPF. Via the power of cooperative giving, members can pool their financial contributions to support meaningful and lasting solutions in Turkey. The group welcomes and encourages anyone to support the collective effort. Irem Aydin says, “TPF is open to different ideas. There are so many organizations to support, and I feel accepted with my ideas of where I want to support and how to go about it.” The community’s fabric is diverse, and the giving circle enables giving to various programs to drive solutions.

The Journey of Education
A Giving Story of Lale and Tunç Doluca

Through the years, the Doluca family has given to many organizations in the U.S. and Turkey. As their success grew, Lale and Tunç discussed how to use their good fortune to benefit others, especially in their native country where they were born and raised. They were the most passionate about supporting education, providing shelter, and fighting against hunger. Defining their focus helped lead their decision: they wanted to have a lasting impact on the lives of children and families in Turkey.

Yet, they didn’t know exactly which organization to support and where to support their search. During an annual visit to his company’s office in Istanbul, Tunç was introduced to Darüşşafaka Society. The organization seemed like a perfect fit since it supported children’s education from a younger age.

Reflecting on the importance of their younger years and the influence of those years on their success, Dolucas believed Darüşşafaka Society was the right organization. “The first ten years of our education is where we all acquire our habits and develop our passions, and our characters are molded. Those are the really critical years if you think about yourself or if you think about others and you can see that”. Lale and Tunç believed they were fortunate enough to have parents that supported them and helped them through their early years. However, many children, who are very smart and have so much potential, do not have that support in those critical years due to extreme poverty or the loss of a family member. These circumstances can have a high impact on children and their future. Yet, with organizations like Darüşşafaka Society, these children are provided an opportunity to have a quality education that will lead them to follow their dreams. Tunç also felt a greater sense of confidence in the organization, as a classmate of his from college, Bülent, was a Darüşşafaka graduate. He saw how successful, driven, and caring Bülent was throughout the years.

Slowly, the Dolucas began to bond with the Darüşşafaka Society and supported them annually through their DAF at TPF. Their impact grew when they strengthened that bond with a partnership with Turkish Philanthropy Funds.

During the summer of 2020, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Dolucas became aware of the impact the pandemic had on students in Turkey. Their friend who introduced them to Darüşşafaka reached out and expressed how the needs of Darüşşafaka have grown greater. Education was truly remote for some but not for all since some students didn’t have access to tools such as computers and the internet. There was a significant gap in solutions for youth. Yet, there was a lack of donations. Dolucas decided that they would like to bridge that gap, but they knew they needed others to join them.

Lale and Tunç have worked with TPF through the years, and Tunç Doluca has held onto what Haldun Tashman told him years ago, “If you are going to give back, it is better to do it when you’re alive instead of through your will because not only will you get a head start on giving, but you will be able to see the impact of your gifts, and that will make you feel good.” This approach became the center of their philanthropy. This drive, combined with their trust in TPF, made them reach out to Turkish Philanthropy Funds to discuss how they could increase their impact on the Darüşşafaka Society. “We thought Turkish Philanthropy Funds has the organizational skills, capabilities, and ability for our donation to grow through their reach and wide network,” notes Tunç Doluca. “We also knew that getting a tax deduction for contributions to Darüşşafaka through TPF would be a bonus for many donors.”

Dolucas learned that they could amplify their support by turning their contribution into a matching gift campaign. They immediately were attracted to the idea, and the TPF team worked to put together a year-end campaign with Darüşşafaka Society. The campaign launched in October of 2020 and successfully met and exceeded its goal by December 31st, 2020. The campaign, “Join the Journey of Children’s Education with Darüşşafaka Society” with the generous matching gift of $250,000 from Lale and Tunç Doluca raised over $506,000.

Lale and Tunç Doluca now feel they can look back and see that they have lived up to the words of Haldun Tashman. They can see the impact their giving has made, which provides them with a great sense of joy.

INSPIRING GIVING – FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION 

Zeynep Oğuz Bilimer’s journey in philanthropy began at an early age as she grew up in a family dedicated to giving back. For her family, philanthropy and serving the community have been at the forefront for generations. Zeynep reflected on her family’s generosity, especially in the community she grew up. “I grew up in a city where the central mosque carries the name of my great-grandfather and schools named after my parents. After my grandmother passed away, we met so many people whom she had silently supported financially for years.”

Talk around giving back had always been the staple of dinner conversations when Zeynep was growing up. Both of her parents are individual recipients of the Turkish Grand National Assembly’s Outstanding Service Award (TBMM Üstün Hizmet Ödülü). They built schools, provided countless scholarships, and supported many civic and cultural projects. After they retired, philanthropy became their sole purpose. “Their philosophy has always been to keep one-third of what they made, pay one-third in taxes, and give back the remaining one-third throughout my life; I’ve seen how spiritually fulfilling giving back has been for my parents,” notes Zeynep. Her parents are the quintessential model for giving; their lives of generosity will continue to impact those they care about long beyond their lifetimes. And, that is also what matters the most to Zeynep and her husband, Evren.

“It’s been the greatest gift,” says Zeynep. “I feel like what my parents taught us was an opportunity – an opportunity to make a difference and to explore within ourselves something they had already figured out: lifting the people around you is what matters most. They knew that giving back could bring good to others, but also us as we practiced generosity together.”

Today, Zeynep and Evren use their giving to help create a stronger community and a healthier society. Their preference is to support projects that may be otherwise unpopular or controversial for widespread support and programs that help people become self-sufficient. With this lens, Bilimers believe they better understand what the current needs are beyond their interests. They note: “This is a great way to broaden our perception of the needs in our communities.”

Zeynep and her husband, Evren, have embedded giving back in their lifestyles. Early in her career, when Zeynep did not have the financial means to give, she designed branding for non-profit organizations and helped them with their communication needs pro bono. Evren became a regular supporter of Action Against Hunger early in his career, an organization later for which Zeynep also became a big advocate. Their support to cure child malnutrition resonated even more as they became parents in hopes of helping lower and eventually end child deaths due to malnutrition in the world. Now, as young parents, they constantly look for ways to inspire their two children philanthropically and get them excited about how they can contribute to society. “We have an obligation to give back where we live, where we come from, and to invest in our communities. We want our children to grow up learning about our family’s culture of giving and see themselves as part of the community narrative,” notes Zeynep.

The couple’s two children are nature lovers and worry about climate change, so their giving involves organizations fighting it. Zeynep and Evren are aware that there are many worthy causes, so focusing and knowing what’s most important to them as a family and aligning that with the giving they do have been significant to their family.

Bilimers appreciate the many opportunities to learn and engage when you partner with TPF, whether it’s information about effective non-profits in Turkey, support in vetting these non-profits, or the variety of issue-focused events TPF hosts. There’s something for everyone. For Bilimers, TPF allows their family to be a part of something their ancestors would’ve deeply appreciated. And, as the daughter of prominent philanthropists, Zeynep feels that this is her way to honor her family’s selfless acts and support of their immediate communities. And, as a bonus, Zeynep notes, “giving back in return gives you a sense of purpose, and you are happier and healthier as a result.”

Burcu and Mete Tuncel understand the value of giving back to their community. They have been devoted philanthropists and TPF donors for several years. Their involvement with Turkish Philanthropy Funds began through Burcu’s connection to Tashman family as the 2004 recipient of the Tashman Fellowship for her MBA degree at Columbia University but continued with Burcu and Mete’s working with Özlenen Kalav, former President and CEO of TPF, at the Robert College Alumni Association of America. These connections enabled them to have a true introduction to TPF and begin their philanthropic journey with TPF.

The Tuncels are drawn to help children in need and found their passion in two main areas: education and healthcare. Through Turkish Philanthropy Funds, Burcu and Mete were able to find organizations they wanted to get involved with, and they were able to trust that their support would go to the areas they imagined. “I enjoy being very hands-on,” says Burcu Tuncel. “With TPF, I’ve loved being involved in the projects we support from Turkish Philanthropic Association (Türkiye Yardim Sevenler Derneği) to fund schools in my hometown to raise awareness on early childhood education to provide scholarships to TOHUM Autism Foundation, which offers top of the line education for kids with needs and supporting children affected by leukemia and their families through LÖSEV.”

The couple brings a creative attitude to raising money and awareness as well. Right when the pandemic hit our communities, Burcu and Mete looked for a way to help people in Turkey. The couple reached out to TPF to discuss potential ideas. Burcu did not only bring in her passion for giving to TPF but also her network and connections. She connected with her Robert College classmates, Yasemin Sırali and Özge Karadağ Çaman, for guidance and help. Her research revealed the need for a medical machine called the Cerus Intercept System that can be life-saving in the treatment of Covid-19. And, there was only one of them in Turkey, in Istanbul. Burcu reached out to Robert College alumni to raise funds. A major gift by another Robert College classmate, Umur Çubukçu, and many others enabled TPF to donate the device to İnönü Üniversitesi Turgut Özal Tıp Merkezi in Malatya. This machine which inactivates pathogens in the plasma collected from individuals who have recovered from coronavirus disease, is a life-changing opportunity to help fight the infection. “Turgut Özal Tıp Merkezi is Turkey’s largest stem cell and organ transplant hospital with 222 stem cells and more than 300 liver transplants in 2019. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, it became the first hospital to start immune plasma therapy globally after centers in China. Knowing that this will make a huge difference for thousands of people during these uncertain times of Covid-19 and will continue to be used in the long- term for stem cell and organ transplants once the pandemic is over makes this one of the most memorable moments of our lives,” notes Burcu and Mete. This, along with many other reasons, inspires the Tuncels to give back and do so through TPF.

“Working with TPF gives us a sense of security and reassurance that our contributions go to make the lasting impressions we desire. TPF helped us stay on top of things. With TPF’s due diligence, we know our donations go to the right place. When you donate through TPF, the grantees take you more seriously. They make things happen. They know TPF will follow up and that they have to deliver on time,” says Burcu. As Burcu and Mete continue their journey with TPF, they hope to educate friends and family on the power of intentional giving. Mete and Burcu plan to continue identifying opportunities to tell their friends and family how they can give thoughtfully and see their investment results. “We are excited about the opportunities we’ll have to make contributions for many years to come to charitable organizations we care about,” Burcu said. “And, TPF makes it so easy.”

Four Inspiring Young Women from Turkey are Recipients of the Prestigious

Sena Eken Schieber Economics Award

New York, NY (April 30th, 2021) – Turkish Philanthropy Funds is proud to announce the 2021 Sena Eken Schieber Economics Award recipients: Bihter Erbaş, Müge Önder, Nezihat Bengisu Kaynar, and Serra Güllü.

The Sena Eken Schieber Economics Award continues to be the only award earmarked for young women from Turkey to obtain graduate degrees in the field of Economics in the United States. “We have an exceptional group of highly motivated, talented, and forward-looking young women, all of whom are focused on achieving their full potentials in order to maximize their contributions to society. I am proud to assist them in enhancing their personal and professional skills in making the world a better place for everyone. Sena would have been very pleased for these impressive young women to have the educational and cultural opportunities that so benefited her,” says Dr. George Schieber, Sena’s husband, and a former World Bank Economist.

Each year at TPF, we get to meet new inspiring young women who are excited to embark on furthering their education and careers. “This year’s scholarship recipients are four incredible young women who amazed us all with their maturity, intelligence, and standing in life. Theirs are stories of opportunity, resilience, persistence, and hope. Once again, we couldn’t be more proud to see that through the Sena Eken Schieber Award, TPF creates more inclusion and impacts lives in significant ways. We are grateful to George Schieber for his generous contribution that enables TPF to be doing this work,” says Dr. Senay Ataselim-Yilmaz, TPF’s Executive Director.

The scholarship is designed to encourage and support outstanding female students with financial challenges to pursue graduate degrees in Economics in the U.S. Sena Eken Schieber has been a role model that these aspiring economists look up to. Bihter Erbaş who will be studying at the University of Chicago noted how she regards “this scholarship not only as a great honor, but also a commitment to put my skills, experience, and knowledge to the best use.” Serra Güllü, getting ready for a Master’s at the Duke University, expressing her gratitude says, “It is not enough for me to put into words how grateful and honored I am to be awarded this scholarship that will completely change my life.” Nezihat Bengisu Kaynar, sharing her excitement to have the opportunity to study at Columbia University noted how the scholarship provided “unique support for many female economist students like me to achieve their dreams and ideals.”  Emphasizing the equal opportunity provided by the award, Müge Önder who will be studying at Boston University says “it would have been just a dream for me to study at one of the best schools in the U.S. if I were not supported by this award.”

The Sena Eken Schieber Economics Award is offered to dedicated female students on the basis of personal commitment, academic merit, professional and personal references, and financial need after a competitive selection process each year. Sena’s niece, Esra Krause, who serves on the selection committee commented on this year’s recipients, “Impressive! That’s the word I would use to describe this year’s scholarship recipients. Their desire to learn, grow and better themselves is remarkable, and I am so glad that this scholarship allows them the opportunity to make their wishes come true. Congratulations!”

TPF Board Member and member of the Sena Eken Schieber Scholarship selection committee, Dr. Nakiye Boyacıgiller noted that the selection process inspires her every year, “Scholarships change lives. As I looked into the eyes of several of our outstanding candidates, I couldn’t help but think about my late father, Oğuz Avdan. An intelligent and industrious student of modest means in 1937 who received a full scholarship to study in the U.S., graduating to become one of Turkey’s first petroleum engineers. I have no doubt but that this changed not only his future but that of our entire extended family as well.”

About The Sena Eken Schieber Economics Award and Sena Eken Schieber
The Sena Eken Schieber Economics Award is supported by the Eken Schieber Scholarship Fund at Turkish Philanthropy Funds. The fund was established by Sena’s husband, George Schieber, to celebrate Sena Eken Schieber’s life, and continue her legacy as a pioneering international civil servant, Turkish Government official, economist, and role model for many women. Sena was not only a highly competent, hard-working, and successful professional, but also a wonderful wife, a caring and dedicated sister, aunt, family member, friend, and mentor. She was known as an inspirational leader who lived life to the fullest. The scholarship supports young women from Turkey from low-income families to pursue graduate degrees in economics in the United States. The Sena Eken Schieber Scholarship program was established in 2015 and to date has funded some 10 very deserving young Turkish women for master’s degrees and Ph.Ds in accredited U.S. graduate economics programs including the University of Chicago, Columbia, and Duke University.

About Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF)
Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF) is the leading U.S. community foundation for high-impact social investments dedicated to Turkish and Turkish-American communities. Since 2007, TPF has mobilized over $46M and has invested over $25M in grants with partners focused on addressing economic, education, gender equality, social and environmental needs in Turkey and around the world. By providing support to realize the philanthropic vision of individuals, families, and corporations, TPF donors and partners have reached thousands of families and directly funded over 200 projects.

For more information about the application process for the 2022 Award cycle or other philanthropic accounts at TPF, please visit our website, localhost/tpfund/.

Sena Eken Schieber Economics Award

Giving has always been a priority for Nil and Bahadir. Yet, it became a central point in their lives as they became more successful in their careers. Giving back is a big part of Turkish culture and it was part of their lineage. They emphasize how they grew up with giving tradition in their families. “Because of our backgrounds, giving back has always been important to us whether it be through investing our time with communities or making a financial contribution.” Because supporting education is a shared passion for Nil and Bahadir, making a charitable investment initially in educational programs such as providing scholarships made perfect sense. As they grew into their success, their giving portfolio has grown as well.

In 2013, Bahadir met TPF’s staff, and the Onalans established the Umudumuz Fund, a donor-advised fund at TPF, later that year. “The commitment, dedication, and drive of Haldun Tasman, his family and friends, and his team, have built a sustainable, transparent, and trustworthy model for charitable purposes – a model which brought us to TPF’’ notes the couple. With the tools and resources from TPF in their purview, they have started investing in a variety of issues from the refugee crisis and supporting programs that fight against injustice and discrimination to environmental issues. The combination of personal experience and shared values made the Onalans’ giving even more meaningful.

The Onalans have several memories from their years of giving but the most memorable moments are seeing letters and photos from the children they support. This joy, they say, “cannot be found anywhere else.” Their ending sentence when they ask their friends to join them in their giving is: Start with helping ONE family, ONE child, ONE woman, and the rest will follow.

TPF Annual Report 2019-2020

Gülsin Harman

Throughout his professional career, Robert L. Long had been concerned with the issues facing journalism in a rapidly changing world. After he started to teach at Bahçeşehir University in İstanbul, Robert became more familiar with Turkish journalists and their struggles in their profession. The award in his name honors his dedication to Turkish journalists and supports the work of exceptional Turkish journalists at Harvard University’s renowned Nieman Foundation. Robert would have been exceptionally pleased with the 2020 Robert L. Long Nieman Fellow, Gülsin Harman, who is deeply committed to promoting press freedom and works fearlessly and with integrity on stories that need to be shared.

The Nieman Fellowship is a huge deal in the journalism community. It is the Oscars of reporting. For Gülsin Harman, becoming a Robert L. Long Nieman Fellow has been about more than her chosen field. It has also been about discovering who she really is as a person. Even though all of the past Turkish Nieman Fellows unanimously told her that “it will be the best year of your life,” at first she couldn’t really imagine what that would be like. Once settled in, she understood what a life-changing experience being a Robert L. Long Nieman Fellow would be. “This was a year for real transformational change for me,” says Gülsin. She went into the fellowship thinking it would all be about skills development as a journalist, but she came out of it with so much more than that. Her experiential learning at Harvard which integrated shared contextual exploration with reflective thought processes with other fellows from around the world made it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Gülsin is an extraordinary journalist with “genuine leadership skills” says the curator of the Nieman Foundation, Ann Marie Lipinski. Yet, Gülsin notes that spending a year at Harvard turned her into a confident leader. “I have not only discovered new skills and techniques within my own style of journalism but also learned how I can be confident in my craft,” she says. Self-limiting beliefs prevented Gülsin from taking action in her career many times in the past. For Gülsin, winning the fellowship was the first step to thinking and acting bigger. “I was honestly shocked when I was accepted into the fellowship. This was a dream come true for me. At the kickoff, I was so uncertain of what skills I could contribute. In the past, I’ve definitely left opportunities on the table because I wasn’t confident enough to speak up or put myself out there. After completing the fellowship, I feel light years away from the person I was before. Plopping down in a different country and actually being able to add real value to journalism just blew the lid off of my self-limiting beliefs and grew my confidence far beyond what it’s been for years,” she further notes.

As a woman in journalism, the confirmation, validation, and recognition needed to build confidence can be really hard to find. Gülsin knew that successful transformations demand new capabilities. As a leader, she was ready to examine her strengths and shortcomings and use the experience as a springboard for personal development. Yet, at Harvard, Gülsin also learned to hold up a mirror to the perceptions of the society. When she scrutinized her own leadership traits and experiences, she realized that the problems are caused mostly by the environment in which she operates. Harvard leveraged the intimate link between cultural norms and experience for Gülsin. She notes that “hearing the same stories from women journalists across different countries and backgrounds, seeing that we have the same problems, and learning that we are all in this together showed me it’s not me or my talent. It’s the society and how the culture is built. Hearing this helped me.” This enabled Gülsin to take a step back and consider her life choices and what she can achieve further. This awakening enabled her to focus on her personal growth – not only as a journalist but as a woman.

This was not a regular year. Toward the end of the academic year at Harvard, Gülsin and many others had to face a global pandemic. She went from attending classes in person and collaborating on skills-building to working alone online. It happened so suddenly that one moment they were planning a meeting for dinner, and the next the facilities were shut down and no one could access any of the campus resources. Though this was a frustrating time for all the fellows, it was also a time to take a step back and appreciate everything that came out of being in the program and the people they had met. It highlighted friendships, bonds, and resilience. There was a sense of security brought on by knowing this. The pandemic also proved what Gülsin’s cohort has experienced throughout the fellowship: the world is more connected than we think and we exist because of others’ actions.

Gülsin’s experience as a Robert L. Long Nieman Fellow will definitely drive her future adventures. There is a new passion and confidence built into Gülsin Harman now, as a journalist, woman, and a Nieman Fellow.  Her last piece of advice to anyone, especially women interested in applying for the Nieman Fellowship is to believe in themselves: “I would advise any journalist interested in applying to the fellowship to do so. Do not be discouraged or intimidated by this fellowship being at Harvard. Do not think to yourself ‘this is Harvard, it is prestigious, I don’t stand a chance.’ The Nieman Fellowship looks for a broad variety of journalists. You owe it to yourself to try! If you want to develop as a journalist, then you deserve a chance. Take time with your application. Try to focus on one single question throughout the process: ‘Why I do what I do.’ If you think you have a good answer to why you became a journalist in the first place and why you are eager to have a new toolkit for yourself to enhance your journalism career, then you’re a good fit for this fellowship.” 

Through Turkish relatives, friends, lecturers, and books, George felt like he had discovered a new world very different than that of his relatively young native country. His fascination was enhanced during his trips to Turkey starting in 1976. The incredible history, architecture, hospitality, geographical setting, cuisine, handicrafts, and culture, in a modern Muslim democracy provided a real-world example of hope and potential for the political and economic future of the Middle East.

After Sena passed away in 2014, he wanted to do something meaningful in her name. Sena always appreciated how her education in Turkey and her graduate training in the U.S. provided her with the tools and opportunity to have a challenging international career at the IMF and as an Advisor to the Governor of the Central Bank of Turkey. To help create such opportunities for other deserving Turkish women, George launched the Sena Eken-Schieber Scholarship Fund at TPF to help Turkish women lacking the financial means to get graduate degrees in economics in the U.S. He engaged Sena’s niece, Esra Krause — a young lawyer, to assist him and TPF with this initiative. Esra is “proud to have seen the scholarship fund in the last three years support six successful economists in memory of my aunt. Providing the opportunity to these strong, intelligent, and accomplished women is what makes it all worthwhile.”

George, as both an economist and former international civil servant, voiced similar perspectives and notes “It is such a great pleasure to be witnessing the growth, professional and personal development of these smart, energetic, compassionate, and dedicated young women. In this era of populism and nationalism, helping develop the social consciences and minds of the next generation of global professionals is indeed a worthy legacy.” He hopes to continue supporting more young women from Turkey in the field of economics.

About The Sena Eken Schieber Economics Award and Sena Eken Schieber

The Sena Eken Schieber Economics Award is supported by the Eken Schieber Scholarship Fund at Turkish Philanthropy Funds. The fund was established by Sena’s husband, George Schieber, to celebrate Sena Eken Schieber’s life, and continue her legacy as a pioneering international civil servant, Turkish Government official, economist, and a role model for many women. Sena was not only a highly competent, hard-working, and successful professional, but also a wonderful wife, a caring and dedicated sister, aunt, family member, friend, and mentor. She was known as an inspirational leader who lived life to the fullest. The scholarship supports young women from Turkey from low-income families to pursue graduate degrees in economics in the United States.

READ ABOUT THIS YEAR’S AWARDEES HERE.

Sena Eken Schieber Economics Award Information

2019-2020 Turkcha Board Members (Dilek Anderson center)

When her husband and Dilek Anderson got married, they knew would eventually need to make a decision as to where they will create their family home. He was a Microsoft employee and Seattle resident, and she was an attorney and Izmir resident. Dilek decided to remain in their home in Izmir with her daughter, and continue working as an attorney. 

Dilek and her husband maintained their relationship long distance, but it became clear that being separated, and especially raising their daughter, was too difficult for both of them. “It was hard. What’s more important: family or career? And I felt it was family,” she said while explaining her decision  to move to America in 2009.“Our goal was to only be in America for a while, then return. But it’s been eleven years, and we are still here.” 

Moving to a new country, leaving behind your career, family, friends, and culture, is overwhelming.  Especially if you do not have a network, friends/family, or a community that can ease the transition. 

After living in Seattle for four years, Dilek was adapting. Her and her friend Mine would often have the same conversation about the struggle of being an immigrant woman in a new country. The two would talk about how the difficulties immigrant women faced were the same. The culture. The language. “What we realized was, all the ethnicities were separated, Turks with Turks, Indians with Indians. But we thought if we were just all together in this, then we could broaden our horizons and resources,” says Dilek when she was talking about how Turkcha was established.

Collaborating with attorney Kubilay Celebi, who worked with them pro bono on legal guidance, in 2013, Dilek and Mine created Turkcha. They wanted to create a comforting environment for immigrant women who left their careers, friends, family, and familiar surroundings to move to a new country. Their goal was to help these women adjust and feel part of a community, regardless of where they came from originally. Dilek explains, “We wanted to send the message of ‘We are in this together.- what we feel, go through, etc.’”  

Recognizing the major hurdle for women to overcome is the language barrier, Turkcha organizes some free events in English including educational workshops, and what they call ‘happy activities– because women can give happiness to their kids, their families and their surroundings,’ says Dilek. “Over tea and coffee people meet each other, and share and listen to each other’s stories. These stories are how they connect to each other.” Turkcha also introduces Turkish culture to other immigrant women and holds celebratory cultural events for Turkish-American families. 

One of the first things Turkcha realized was that women were in need of driving courses and a driver’s license. The women who take part in Turkcha’s programs often do not have the budget to pay for these courses which cost anywhere between $500-$1000. Women really need to drive in Seattle to help support their families, whether it was picking their children up from school activities or getting groceries or going to the doctor. So, providing support for driving courses became one of the first programs of Turkcha. 

As Turkcha grew the organization has started to receive support from many partners they acquired. A partner, World Relief, helps immigrant families with their bills for up to six-months once they arrive in the US. When the six-month period ends or if other funding is required, World Relief refers them to Turkcha.  

We were introduced to Turkcha by a TPF donor advised fund holder, Ayse Onalan.  When asked  why this organization and why now, she replied, “because I am an immigrant. I am a woman.” She added that this year, she is donating earlier due to the increased need brought on by COVID-19.

In these uncertain times, we have found comfort in our families, friends, neighbors, and through our communities. It is also a reminder that not everyone has similar  opportunities. Turkish Philanthropy Funds is creating the bridge to connect donors and partners, allowing us to expand our reach in helping our community. 

As a response to COVID-19, Turkcha has provided financial assistance to immigrant women who have applied for their help during this time. They have an application process and work to respond quickly to the needs. They are also working to create virtual programs and events to host on their social platforms for their community. Dilek and the Turkcha board members Aysun Eskici, Esra Usta, Ayse Hilal Bayrak, Didem Demirkilinc, and Zeynep Akkus continue to think of innovative ideas to help the women that make Turkcha a community. From yoga to therapy, to share and discuss lives, they are supporting each other during these uncertain times. They have also worked to help women who have lost their jobs or had cut back on hours since the pandemic hit.

Additionally, with the hope of carrying on a common Ramadan tradition, they want to give back to those in need. They have launched a campaign where donors can help provide gift cards for families to use toward their grocery shopping in the month of Ramadan. They aim to support around 20 families. If you are interested in helping them achieve their goal, you may donate to their campaign.

“This year has been more difficult than earlier for a lot of refugee and immigrant families because of the coronavirus. Many people lost their jobs and they do not know when they will start to work again. Everything depends on how the virus will be taken under control. They are having difficulties both financially and emotionally.” They said in regards to their idea behind this campaign.

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Children’s Day is celebrated throughout Turkey on April 23rd yearly. For Children’s Day this year, TPF partners with TOHUM Autism Foundation to give the gift of online education. Due to COVID-19 the students of TOHUM have faced new challenges, by donating to our COVID-19 Community Relief Fund, TPF will be able to help 78 TOHUM students with internet connection and tablets to help ease the impact COVID-19 has had on their education.

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