As the years passed, however, he began to think differently about the house. Beyond being a treasured retreat, could it also become part of his enduring legacy? Dr. Sarıoğlu had long believed that education was the most powerful investment one could make in shaping future generations. He also wanted to leave behind something that reflected his own life’s values of service, knowledge, and opportunity. The Rockport home, he realized, could be more than a memory. It could become a gift.

Discovering a New Way to Give

Through his work with Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF), Dr. Sarıoğlu learned about the option of a bargain sale—a creative planned giving strategy that allows real estate to be transformed into both immediate financial support and long-term philanthropy. In a bargain sale, property is sold to a charitable organization for less than its fair market value. The donor receives cash from the sale, while the “bargain” portion—the difference between market price and sale price—is considered a charitable contribution and may qualify for a tax deduction.

This approach appealed to Dr. Sarıoğlu for several reasons. It allowed him to receive funds from the Rockport property, ensuring security for his retirement, while also dedicating a significant portion of the home’s value to the causes he most cared about. Most importantly, it meant that the home which had given his family decades of happiness would now create opportunities for others.

From Rockport to Istanbul: A Legacy at Sabancı University

Working with TPF, Dr. Sarıoğlu finalized the bargain sale of his Rockport home. The proceeds were carefully directed according to his wishes and provided scholarships at Sabancı University, one of Türkiye’s leading institutions of higher learning.

His funding supported promising students who might otherwise struggle to afford a university education. For them, Dr. Sarıoğlu’s generosity is beyond funding. It is a concrete door opened to learning, leadership, and new futures. The same house that once welcomed family and friends in Massachusetts has symbolically welcomed young scholars in Istanbul, offering them the chance to pursue their dreams.

The Power of Planned Giving Through Real Estate

Dr. Sarıoğlu’s story shows how real estate can become one of the most impactful tools in philanthropy. For many individuals, property represents both personal history and financial value. Through strategies like bargain sales, those assets can be thoughtfully reimagined: securing personal financial needs while creating lasting impact for communities and causes. If you’ve ever thought about how to make your impact last, donating real estate might be one of the most meaningful ways to do it.

Dr. Sarıoğlu’s legacy lives on in three powerful ways:

• Education: His scholarship at Sabancı University ensures that future leaders have access to opportunity, regardless of financial barriers.
• Inspiration: His story shows how even a beloved vacation home can be transformed into a source of lasting good.
• Enduring Values: His commitment to medicine, service, and education continues to shape lives well beyond his own lifetime.

As Dr. Sarıoğlu once reflected, “My Rockport home gave my family decades of joy. Through TPF, it now gives countless others a chance at a brighter future.”

What is a Bargain Sale?

A bargain sale is a planned giving strategy that lets you sell real estate to a nonprofit for less than its fair market value. You receive part of the value in cash, and the remaining portion is treated as a charitable gift, which may qualify for a tax deduction.  It’s a flexible way to turn property such as a home, vacation house, or land into a legacy gift.

Why This May Work for You:

• Keep Financial Flexibility: Receive cash from the sale while still making a significant gift.
• Tax Advantages: Potentially reduce capital gains and enjoy charitable tax deductions.
• Simplify Life: Transfer property you no longer wish to manage (like a vacation home, rental, or land).
• Create Legacy: Transform a personal asset into scholarships, community programs, or other initiatives that carry your name forward.
• Support What Matters Most: Direct your gift to education, healthcare, disaster relief, or the causes closest to your heart. 

About Dr. Rıza Sarıoğlu

Dr. Ali Rıza Sarıoğlu (1921–2018) was a physician whose life reflected a deep commitment to medicine, education, and service.

He was born in Rize-Pazar, Türkiye, in 1921 and spent his early years in Trabzon, where he completed his primary and secondary schooling. In 1939, he entered the Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, graduating in 1945 as part of a generation of physicians who would help shape modern Turkish healthcare.

Following his military service, Dr. Sarıoğlu began his professional career at Şişli Etfal Hospital in Istanbul, where he trained in pediatrics. His ambition and dedication soon took him abroad: in 1951, he traveled to the United States for advanced medical training. These years broadened his perspective, deepened his expertise, and instilled in him a lasting appreciation for international exchange in medicine and education.

When he returned to Türkiye, he specialized in allergy medicine and established his own practice in Istanbul. For decades, he cared for patients with both skill and compassion, earning the trust of countless families. He continued his medical practice until his retirement in 1987, leaving behind a reputation as both a dedicated physician and a respected member of his community.

Even after his retirement, Dr. Sarıoğlu remained devoted to advancing knowledge and opportunity. This lifelong passion ultimately shaped his philanthropy. Before his passing on November 29, 2018, he ensured that his legacy would endure through education. Working with Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF), he transformed his vacation home in Rockport, Massachusetts into a lasting gift. Through a bargain sale, the proceeds from the property provided scholarships at Sabancı University, empowering future generations of students in Türkiye to pursue their dreams.

Dr. Sarıoğlu’s life and his gift continue to echo the values he lived by: service, knowledge, and the belief that education can transform lives.

In New York, İlhan established a successful career as a physician, while Neriman pursued her dream as a tailor. Though they thrived in America, their bond with Türkiye — their first adopted homeland— remained unbroken. Friends remember them as a couple full of life, deeply committed to the well-being of others, and always eager to give back.

When İlhan passed away in 2007 after a battle with cancer, Neriman carried forward their shared values. Before her own passing in 2014, she made a profound decision: to ensure that their generosity lived on through planned gifts in her will. She designated charitable bequests to five organizations in Türkiye—the Turkish Oncology Foundation, Hand-in-Hand Foundation (TSK Elele Vakfı), Foundation for Children with Leukemia, Turkish Education Foundation, and Darülaceze Foundation.

Working closely with the trustees of her estate, Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF) served as the bridge to fulfill Neriman’s wishes. By administering her planned gifts and delivering them to trusted partners in Türkiye, TPF ensured that the Nuraltay family’s legacy of resilience, generosity, and love for humankind continues to touch lives for generations to come.

We remember Neriman Hanım and İlhan Bey with deep gratitude, honoring their story as a testament to the power of planned giving and the enduring impact of a well-lived life.

Explore Planned Giving

When Fügen was growing up, she experienced her parents supporting two new students every year from their community. Their contributions enabled those students to continue their education from middle-school through college, making sure they were not held back from their dreams due to financial burdens. Fügen believes observing her parents giving back so generously to their community and experiencing the joy it brought to her family made her the person she is today. “Ever since I can remember, my parents have given to others. They strongly supported Turkish causes, primarily education and particularly young disadvantaged children. They helped support the education of many children over the years.” Fügen recalls how both of her parents always asked her, ‘If something happens to us, will you continue to support the children we are supporting?’ For Fügen, continuing the support was no question. She was taught early on the importance of education, especially equal and quality education, and continuing her family’s legacy through investing in education was already something she planned to do. After her mother passed away as she reminisced on her childhood, she once again saw the impact and importance of her family’s generosity, and was determined to carry out her family’s legacy.

In today’s world, youth face many stressful moments, but how they react to them can make all the difference.

A new study done by the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, MIT, and Transforming Education suggests that mindfulness education — lessons on techniques to calm the mind and body — can reduce the negative effects of stress and increase students’ ability to stay engaged, helping them stay on track academically and avoid behavior problems. TPF donor, Seray İncoğlu, first-handedly experienced the difference mindfulness practice can make in one’s life. Seray, a mother of two and a very successful professional in finance, was introduced to mindfulness later in life. “As soon as I started to practice it, my life completely changed – it was as if a light switch had turned on in my head. I wish I had learned about mindfulness at a younger age. Practicing mindfulness has countless benefits, including decreasing depression, anxiety, and stress and improving overall well-being, happiness, and self-love,” she stated. “Mindfulness practice teaches us to focus on the present without judgment. It teaches us to weather the daily pressures of life by focusing on and controlling our own thoughts and actions today. It also reminds us that we all have limitless potential. I knew having this knowledge could change many people’s lives, especially those who are already facing disadvantages in their life,” added Seray.

Seray’s personal philanthropic journey with TPF started when she reached out to get advice on supporting education in Türkiye. “I was brought up in a household where education was extremely important. My father and mother were great mentors in this regard. Education is one of the strongest instruments for many different facets of life – education promotes self-love, respect, and awareness; it reduces poverty improves gender equality, and endorses world peace.” Seray knew she wanted to support causes working in this area in Türkiye but was unsure where to start. Conversations with TPF evolved into a place where she dived deeper into what her real passion was. She wanted to make quality education available to all, but “was that all?” she found herself questioning. The outcome of her pursuit through conversations with TPF was the establishment of a pilot mindfulness program with Çağdaş Yaşamı Destekleme Derneği (ÇYDD) Şile branch.

As Seray searched for ways to have the most impact on a young person’s life through education, she found herself looking for a solution involving introducing mindfulness. Seray believes that the traditional education system lacks the resources to provide adequate psychological and mental support or teach the proper coping mechanisms. “Life is truly beautiful, but it can certainly be a very busy, chaotic at times, and sometimes cruel. It can be even harder for kids to understand and cope with all of these issues that we face in everyday life. Financial distress, family trauma, and societal pressures can lead to depression in many kids and teens. Depression numbers in teens are rising at a staggering rate. Roughly 20 percent of all teens experience depression before adulthood. And, unfortunately, severe depression can lead to suicide. Every 100 minutes, a teen takes his/her life.” “That is just not acceptable,” Seray believed, so she decided to make a difference in that area.

ÇYDD’s pilot project supports young women aged 13-17 who are already ÇYDD scholarship recipients by training them on mindfulness practices. The “Stay in the Moment” program launched in January 2022 in Şile, İstanbul, as a 10-week, 20-hour program. Young women practiced mindfulness to help them manage their emotions in their daily lives. They learned the tools needed to stay calm, trust themselves, respond without reacting, and stop living in constant worry. Practicing mindfulness helped those young women notice their emotions and shift to more neutral thinking, like how their breath feels as they inhale and exhale. One program attendee said, “Learning to be mindful helped me manage my emotions and helped me tackle challenges. I know I can slow down my thoughts and focus on the present now. I am still working on responding without reacting, but I also understand that even being aware of that is a big step.”

What started as a hope for ‘young women in Türkiye to unlock their own power within and see that they truly are limitless’ transformed into a project with the guidance of TPF for Seray. Seray says, “TPF is a great platform where like-minded individuals can unite to share resources and ideas on giving back.” As TPF worked with Seray to find a project that is both meaningful to her and could have a long-term impact, no one thought of an outcome such as the mindfulness program. Yet, once again, we have seen that our donors’ passion for giving and care for the community, combined with our philanthropic expertise, make us an incredible team. And, our greatest impact is made possible through our generous donors’ contributions. Thank you, Seray, for being an inspiration not only to us but to many young women in Türkiye.

Through the years, the Doluca family has given to many organizations in the U.S. and Türkiye. 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 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 Türkiye.

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, the 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, the Dolucas became aware of the impact the pandemic had on students in Türkiye. Their friend who introduced them to Darüşşafaka reached out and expressed how the needs of Darüşşafaka had 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. The 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.”

The Dolucas learned that they could amplify their support by turning their contribution into a matching gift campaign. They were immediately 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.

Zeynep reflected on her family’s generosity, especially to the community she grew up in: “I grew up in a city where the central mosque carries the name of my great-grandfather and schools are 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 up the people around you is what matters most. They knew that giving back could bring good to others, but also to 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.

“This is a great way to broaden our perception of the needs in our communities,” they note.

Zeynep and her husband, Evren, have embedded giving back in their lifestyles. Early on in her career, when Zeynep did not have the financial means to give, she was designing branding for non-profit organizations and helping them with their communication needs on a pro bono basis. Evren became a regular supporter of Action Against Hunger early in his career, an organization for which Zeynep also became a big advocate.

Their support to cure child malnutrition resonated even more as they became parents, in hopes to help lower and eventually end child deaths due to malnutrition in the world. Now, as young parents, they constantly look for ways that can empower their two children philanthropically and get them excited about the ways 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 both nature lovers and really worry about climate change, so their giving involves organizations that fight it. Zeynep and Evren are aware that there are many worthy causes, so being able to focus and know what’s most important to them as a family, and being able to align that with the giving they do, has been really meaningful to their family.

Bilimers appreciate the many opportunities to learn and engage when you partner with TPF, whether it’s information about effective nonprofits in Türkiye, 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 major 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.”

Mustafa Kemal Abadan’s father, Yavuz Abadan was a renown professor who specialized in politics, law as well as history. Famous for his published works, he was a pioneering constitutional law professor and served as the Dean of the Political Science Faculty of Ankara University for many years. Even though he passed away in 1967, he is still remembered as a legend at Ankara University and his books are still being taught today. 

His mother, Neriman Abadan Unat, widely known as “Hocaların hocası” (teacher of teachers) recently celebrated her 95th birthday. Imagine a woman who ran away from home when she was 14 years old to a country which she wasn’t even speaking its native language, just to be able to go to school. That’s Nermin Abadan Unat, who is famous for her determination, hard work and passion for knowledge. She dedicated her whole life to her students, her appreciated work on law and women’s rights. Regardless of her age, she is still teaching at her home where her students from Bosphorus University, come once a week to be nourished by her wisdom and passion. 

Inspired by his parents, Mustafa Kemal Abadan established a scholarship fund, The Abadan Awards, at Koç University, to encourage early-career scholars who are pursuing and/or completed their post-graduate studies in Türkiye or abroad. The awards are administered by Koç University and alternate each year between Dr. Yavuz Abadan Constitutional Law Award for studies in constitutional law; and Dr. Nermin Abadan-Unat Social Science Award in the area of social studies with a particular focus on women’s research. What a way to say “thank you for making me who I am today and inspiring me to give back.”

Like millions of people around the world, he searched online for a trusted way to support the relief effort. That search led him to Turkish Philanthropy Funds.

After learning more about TPF and its earthquake response, Burtay made a donation. But he soon realized that he wanted to do more. Together with two Turkish American colleagues, Elif Şensürücü and Cengiz Bektaş, he organized a fundraising campaign within his company. What began as a simple idea quickly grew into a collective effort, raising more than $10,000 for the TPF Earthquake Fund to support urgent relief efforts.

For Burtay, however, raising funds was only the beginning.

He reached out to TPF to introduce himself, offering his time and expertise as a technology professional. As donations poured in from around the world, TPF faced an unexpected challenge: managing an extraordinary volume of information while responding to one of the largest humanitarian crises in the organization’s history.

Burtay immediately saw where he could help. Together with Elif and Cengiz, he volunteered his expertise to analyze donation flows and build systems that helped organize and make sense of the incoming data. Their work happened almost entirely behind the scenes, but it gave the TPF team clearer information, faster decision-making, and more time to focus on what mattered most: delivering support to communities affected by the disaster.

What began as a search for a place to give became something much more meaningful.

Burtay found a community where his generosity, skills, and commitment could all make a difference.

Today, he continues to volunteer his expertise, helping strengthen TPF’s technology infrastructure and database systems while remaining an active member of the TPF community. Whether supporting new initiatives, solving technical challenges, or lending a hand whenever it is needed, he continues to show up with the same generosity that first brought him to TPF.

His story is a reminder that philanthropy is not measured only by financial contributions. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts are our time, our knowledge, and our willingness to help others succeed. Those are the connections that strengthen communities and make lasting impact possible.

When Seray was nominated for homecoming queen, her mother threw a party.

She invited more than 50 people and prepared dozens of dishes, all before anyone knew whether Seray would win. When Seray asked what would happen if she didn’t win, wondering if all that preparation would be for nothing, her mother simply told her, “It doesn’t matter whether you win or not. You’re always a winner in my heart.” The outcome didn’t matter. Her daughter had already given her reason to celebrate.

For Seray, that moment stayed with her. It gave her a lasting sense of confidence—the feeling that she didn’t need validation from the outside world because she had the unwavering support of her family. It taught her to believe that she could accomplish anything she set her mind to.

She had arrived in the United States in middle school speaking barely any English, leaving behind her friends, her home, and everything familiar. She had to learn a new language, navigate a new culture, and find her place in a world that initially felt very different from her own.

Through it all, her parents were there to support her, giving her the confidence and encouragement to find her place in a new country.

At the time, Seray experienced that support simply as the love and belief of her family. Only later did she fully understand how much that support had shaped her. She began to appreciate how deeply her parents’ support, and especially her mother’s belief in her, had influenced the person she would become.

That understanding took on new meaning when Seray became a working mother herself. She began to understand just how challenging it can be to raise a child, even with two supportive parents. Becoming a mother gave her a deeper appreciation for everything her own parents had given her, and a new empathy for women navigating parenthood with fewer supports.

It also made her think about how profoundly a mother’s support can shape a child’s confidence and future—and how much her own mother’s belief in her had shaped the person she became.

Those two realizations—how much support can shape a child’s future, and how challenging parenthood can be even with support—led her to think about other single mothers whose circumstances may be very different. Women trying to rebuild careers while managing caregiving responsibilities, financial pressures, and the emotional weight of moving forward, often without the networks and resources that can make those challenges easier to navigate.

One question stayed with her:

What does it take for a woman to move forward when she has to do so largely on her own?

Seray wanted her philanthropy to help answer that question. She envisioned support that recognized the different barriers single mothers can face, from career re-entry and financial insecurity to caregiving responsibilities and emotional well-being.

Through conversations with TPF, that personal vision became the starting point for a broader grantmaking approach. Drawing on its knowledge of Türkiye’s nonprofit landscape, TPF identified organizations with complementary expertise and created the EmpowerHER Single Mothers Fund to direct philanthropic resources toward a coordinated response.

This September, grants through the Fund will support five nonprofit partners as they bring their respective expertise to the first cohort of 35 women. Each organization contributes a different piece, from peer support and well-being to parenting, financial literacy, and career readiness.

For Seray, EmpowerHER is rooted in a truth that only deepened with time: behind every dream she chased was a mother’s love and support—given unconditionally, even while carrying quiet struggles of her own.

Today, her philanthropy is helping create opportunities for other single mothers to move forward on their own terms and build the confidence, stability, and support systems that can help shape a different future for themselves and their children.

Long before Kerim became a donor, he was a scholarship recipient.

As a student in Türkiye, he received various scholarships that opened doors and gave him opportunities he never forgot. Combined with the example set by his parents, who believed deeply in helping others and supporting education, that experience shaped a lifelong commitment to giving back. From an early age, Kerim learned that generosity was not simply about making donations. It was about creating opportunities for others to reach their full potential.

Years later, after moving to the United States to pursue graduate studies at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Kerim built a successful career in finance at Morgan Stanley in New York. Yet as his professional accomplishments grew, he often found himself asking a different question: What creates a meaningful life?

Part of the answer came during a solo back-packing journey through East Africa during a sabbatical. While volunteering as a mathematics teacher at a children’s home, he witnessed both the challenges communities face and the profound difference that opportunity can make. The experience reinforced a belief that had been growing throughout his life: success is measured not only by what we achieve for ourselves, but by the opportunities we create for others.

While at Morgan Stanley, Kerim had met Didem.

Although their paths to philanthropy were different, they quickly discovered they shared similar values. Growing up across a few different rural communities across Türkiye, Didem saw firsthand how geography, tradition, and circumstance could limit opportunities, particularly for girls and women. Those experiences inspired a lifelong commitment to advancing gender equality, supporting women, providing crisis & humanitarian relief and expanding opportunities for those too often left behind.

Together, Kerim and Didem built not only a life together but also a shared vision for their philanthropy.

Through their donor-advised fund at TPF, they support the causes that reflect the experiences that shaped them, including educational opportunity, women’s empowerment, children’s well-being, and poverty alleviation. Rather than focusing on a single organization, they invest in the issues they believe can create lasting change, trusting TPF to connect their philanthropy with organizations making a meaningful difference on the ground.

Their commitment extends well beyond financial support. Kerim serves on TPF’s Investment Committee, contributing his expertise to strengthen the Foundation’s long-term stewardship and sustainability, while Didem serves on TPF’s Strategic Planning Committee, helping shape the organization’s priorities and vision for the future.

In addition to their commitments to TPF,  Kerim works extensively with Student Sponsor Partners, mentoring and supporting students in underserved NYC communities to maximize their potential. He is passionate in fundraising for University of Chicago as well as endowing scholarships for the educational institutions he attended back in Turkiye.  Didem actively supports Turkish Women’s Associations, in addition to providing guidance for and directly funding educational causes.

For Kerim and Didem, giving is a reflection of who they are and the values that have guided their lives. The scholarships that once opened doors for Kerim, the lessons Didem carried from her childhood, and the experiences that shaped them both have come together in a shared commitment to creating opportunities for others.

Today, they hope the culture of generosity that shaped their own lives will continue to inspire the next generation, proving that the values we inherit can become the legacy we leave behind.