About ATASC

Posted by ATASC on September 4, 2009 at 16:05 pm

ATASC is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting better understanding and relations between the peoples of Turkey and the United States of America through educational, cultural, charitable, and social activities.

The organization was first founded in 1953 as the “Turkish-American Club”. The main goal was to promote a better understanding of Turkey and Turkish people in the USA and to provide the means for Turkish-Americans to get together and observe special occasions such as Bayrams. It continued through periods of strength with many activities followed by periods of relative inactivity. In 1985, the association bylaws were revised to permit it to become a tax-exempt, non-profit organization. With tax exempt status, all contributions to the organization are tax-deductible. The name was changed to the American Turkish Association of Southern California. The acronym ATASC is consistent with the philosophy of the members: a group adhering to the teachings of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (also referred to as ATA, which means “father”).

Today, ATASC continues to provide an invaluable service to the Turkish-American community. From social activities, cultural activities, charitable causes, as well as building community, ATASC plays an integral role in bringing the Turkish-American community together as well as helping others learn about a people rich in culture.

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ATATURK’s Corner

Ataturk dedicated 23 Nisan, the anniversary of the Turkish National Congress in 1920 to Children. His vision was:

FUTURE BELONGS TO AND IS PROTECTED BY FUTURE GENERATIONS.
He expressed it best when he addressed Turkish Youth:"

"O Turkish Youth! Your first and foremost duty is to defend and protect the Turkish independence and the Turkish Republic for all eternity. All the mighty strength that you will need exists in the noble blood a-flowing in your veins!."

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

For a full text, Click HERE

ATASC THANKS:

ATASC THANKS THE SPONSORS OF THE CHILDREN'S DAY (as of 3/31)

Bulent and Sema Basol,
Ergun and Juliana Kirlikovali,
Haluk and Vega Sankur,
Tulin and Metin Mangir,
Nevin and Selim Senkan,
Burcu Tansu
Emrak Kovacoglu - www.totalbeauty.com
Orhan Arli - www.arliscatering.com
Songul and Tolga Yaprak

ATASC SCHOOL IN IZMIT, TURKEY

ARSLANBEY ATA-SC OKULU On August 17, 1999, western Turkey was struck by a devastating magnitude-7.4 earthquake. Many thousands of people were killed, and many more made homeless by the quake that was centered near Izmit. Contributing to the rebuilding process, ATASC initiated an effort in February 2003 to build a new school for the children of Izmit. The school admitted its first class on September 13, 2004. ATASC still continues to support its namesake school.
Since 2006, ATASC sponsored 13 needy children, helped send 6 children to Space Camp Izmir, opened up a Computer Lab and a Science Lab. Most recently ATASC helped the school to open up a pre-school by furnishing four pre-school classrooms named for ATASC chapters. VATAN Chapter is currently in the process of furnishing a conference salon for the students of the elementary school.