Turkish-American Cultural Foundation

THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF THIS CORPORATION IS TO CONVEY THE TRUE SPIRITUAL AND MORAL VALUES OF ISLAM AND PROVIDE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO PRESERVE, PROMOTE AND TEACH TURKISH LANGUAGE, HISTORY, CULTURE AND TRADITIONS.

DUE TO RENOVATION WORK, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO START ANY OF THE PLANNED TEACHING SERVICES YET. HOWEVER, WITH A PARTIAL PERMIT TO OFFER RELIGIOUS SERVICES, WE STARTED OFFERING DAILY PRAYERS. FOR SOME OF THE PROGRAMS, WE HAVE USED RENTAL SPACES OR PARTNERED WITH OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO USE THEIR SPACES. IN SUCH CASES, WE HAD LARGE GATHERINGS FOR RAMADAN PROGRAMS, INCLUDING IFTAR (DINNER), SPECIAL RELIGIOUS NIGHT PROGRAMS (RAJAB, SHABAAN, LAYLAT-UL QADR) AND EID PRAYERS. ON THE SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY AT LARGE FRONT, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING MONTHLY LUNCH FOR THE HOMELESS PROGRAMS, CULTURAL DAY IN THE BAY, BEAUTIFY PARKS WITH CITY OF SAN JOSE, PARTICIPATE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS TO CLEAN THE PARKS AND BUILT HOMES ORGANIZED BY THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY-GREATER SAN FRANCISCO.ONE OF THE LARGEST ACTIVITY THAT OUR ORGANIZATION UNDERTOOK WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKES THAT HAPPENED IN TURKIYE WHERE OVER 50 THOUSAND PEOPLE GOT PERISHED IN FEBRUARY OF 2023. DURING THE COURSE OF 3 MONTHS (FEB-MAR-APRIL), OUR MEMBERS RALLIED UP TO DONATE + COLLECT MUCH NEEDED WINTER CLOTHING-BLANKETS, MEDICINE AND MEDICAL DEVICES FILLING UP 30 CONTAINERS AND SHIPPED THEM VIA TURKISH AIRLINES TO THE REGION WHERE THEY WERE NEEDED. IN ADDITION, OUR ORGANIZATION COLLECTED OVER $600K FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE QUAKES AND TRANSFERRED THE FUNDS TO THE DIYANET CENTER OF AMERICA WHICH IN TURN TRANSFERRED THEM TO THE TURKISH AFAD AND KIZILAY IN CHARGE OF HELPING THE VICTIMS.