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. Phase One of the project, construction of the building exterior, was completed in May 2003. The Izmit municipality joined the effort by providing electricity, heating, water, sewage and landscaping to the school site.
The school admitted its first class on September 13, 2004. |
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, 
