Bridges of Hope Project

"A Party for Bridges of Hope" took place at Kush Lounge on June 22, 2007. Young professionals and friends of BOHP got together to network, have good time and raise new friends for BOHP. The successful event, organized by Burcu Islam and Lale Deliveli, co-chairs of the BOHP's event planning and fundraising committee, raised $1,426 total. The proceeds of the event will be used to build a library and provide books for a boarding school in Turkey.

Students, Sera Gelgel & Yusuf Yilmaz, at Pioneer Academy of Science, reading thank you letters from students in Turkey.

Turkish folk music was performed by Mehmet Uca, Rana Senol, Handan Hizmetli, Ozan Aksoy.

BOHP volunteers gathered at Suzan Demirel's home to raise friends, seed money and discuss upcoming events. A total of $1,070 was raised at this event. These sums will go to defray BOHP's ongoing operational costs. Suzan contributed to this event by showcasing her superb culinary talents.

BOHP volunteers Burcu Islam and Lale Deliveli organized a party for New York young professionals at Diva Lounge in Manhattan. $1,433 was raised from the proceeds of the event, which will be used to build a library at Vali Nafiz Kayali Yatili Bolge Okulu (Elementary Level Local Boarding School) in Merkez-Diyarbakir in Turkey.

Lale Deliveli and Burcu Islam delivering the proceeds of their fundraising at DIVA to Huseyin Unver, our treasurer.

The Turkish American community has a new and exciting way to stay connected to Turkey and fellow Turkish Americans while enjoying the satisfaction of making a difference for those left behind. The Bridges of Hope Project (BOHP) was born under the leadership of Cigdem A. Acar, an immigration lawyer and an active member of the Turkish-American community, and made its public debut at a community event on May 24th in New York City.

The event was attended by an audience of over 60 Turkish Americans and the Turkish media, and featured Leona Forman, founder and president of the Brazil Foundation, one of the leading models of diaspora philanthropy and an advisor to BOHP. BOHP took the opportunity to introduce its mission, people, and plans and asked the Turkish American community to join them as volunteers and advisors. The volunteers of the Bridges of Hope Project have been heartened and invigorated by the response to the event from the community. The group proceeded with the next steps – including incorporation as a New York nonprofit corporation, grantee selection, outreach to donors, advisors, and volunteers, and planning other events that will once again bring together the community and fill their hearts with hope and desire to help.

The May 24 event Sponsors included the Acar Law Firm, PLLC, Marmara Manhattan, Tulumba.com, Kedimedia and Zeytinia.

The project will build bridges between the United States and Turkey, the privileged and the disadvantaged, the young and the old, and the members of the Turkish diaspora community in the United States and eventually around the world.

Turkish immigrants in the United States have accomplished much over the past few decades, gained self-confidence and financial resources, and started leaving their mark on the landscape, infrastructure and fabric of their adopted home. In addition to the highly successful Turkish businesses, they enjoy significant accomplishments in medicine, law, arts, culture, science, and even American politics. The most recent fire within this community, waiting to be tapped, is organized, strategic, and widespread philanthropy. Many non-profit Turkish-American organizations, as well as individual efforts, have been springing up throughout the various parts of the country to pursue charitable giving directed towards Turkey. Accomplished leaders of the Turkish-American community are wishing to give back to the country of their birth and to bring about sustainable social change. What is now needed is a "tipping point" to turn these existing charitable efforts into a widespread movement and to make philanthropy, engagement, and activism a staple of the Turkish-American community. With this realization, a group of young, highly committed idealists of diverse academic and professional backgrounds have come together and created the Bridges of Hope Project .

The Bridges of Hope Project 's long-term objective is to become a virtual bridge of hope between the Turkish-American community, as well as other friends in the United States, and Turkey. The project seeks to mobilize corporations, professional groups, and individuals interested in contributing to the improvement of social conditions in all regions of Turkey. In addition, the project would like to encourage social entrepreneurs in the development of new strategies to combat Turkey's social problems. The core values of the project, exercised by its founders and volunteers and demanded of its donors and beneficiaries, are transparency, fairness, and accountability. As a first initiative, BOHP will raise funds for educational projects that will give hope and opportunity to Turkish children and youth to pursue their education and realize their potential. BOHP will reach out to potential supporters mainly through events and its website. The founders of BOHP envision that the project will serve as the groundwork for their long-term goal of increased philanthropy and engagement towards the advancement of Turkey.

BOHP will employ a thorough selection process to determine organizations in Turkey that will receive funds and resources and will require grantees to report back with measurable outcomes as well as the real life stories of the beneficiaries. BOHP has compiled an extensive list of Turkish nonprofits that will receive a "Request for Proposal" from the project. The process has already given BOHP a chance to learn much about the Turkish nonprofit sector, to meet its leaders, and to gather the counsel of other experienced philanthropists. BOHP will select organizations that best demonstrate a successful track record in supporting children, youth and their educational pursuits. Other selection criteria will include organizational qualities such as strong leadership and governance, commitment to financial and programmatic accountability, and cost effectiveness, as well as programmatic criteria such as equal opportunity for girls and boys and concentrated, meaningful impact.



	UPCOMING EVENTS June 30 2008 Event PAST EVENTS December 2 2007 Event click here to see the event photos >> Kush Event, June 22, 2007 "A Party for Bridges of Hope" took place at Kush Lounge on June 22, 2007. Young professionals and friends of BOHP got together to network, have good time and raise new friends for BOHP. The successful event, organized by Burcu Islam and Lale Deliveli, co-chairs of the BOHP's event planning and fundraising committee, raised $1,426 total. The proceeds of the event will be used to build a library and provide books for a boarding school in Turkey. BOHP Fund Raising Event, November 11, 2006 Click for Press Release A view from November 11 2006 Fundraising Event at Marmara Manhattan Dr. Metin & Asu Taskin talking with Cigdem Acar & Suzan Demirel Cigdem Acar introducing Sera Gelgel & Yusuf Yilmaz Students, Sera Gelgel & Yusuf Yilmaz, at Pioneer Academy of Science, reading thank you letters from students in Turkey. Turkish folk music was performed by Mehmet Uca, Rana Senol, Handan Hizmetli, Ozan Aksoy. Elif Ozmenek, Seyhan Arkonac, Tahir Erimli, Neslihan Cakiroglu Silent Auction Erden Arkan weighing his options! Gonca Yarimer weighing hers! Aylin Emeksiz, Lara Karabey & Firat Ovun So many Turks, so little time BOHP Friends Raising, October 1^st, 2006 BOHP volunteers gathered at Suzan Demirel's home to raise friends, seed money and discuss upcoming events. A total of $1,070 was raised at this event. These sums will go to defray BOHP's ongoing operational costs. Suzan contributed to this event by showcasing her superb culinary talents. Cigdem & Suzan resting after a very succsessful friend raising Yaza Veda Partisi – BOHP Fund Raising, September 29^th, 2006 BOHP volunteers Burcu Islam and Lale Deliveli organized a party for New York young professionals at Diva Lounge in Manhattan. $1,433 was raised from the proceeds of the event, which will be used to build a library at Vali Nafiz Kayali Yatili Bolge Okulu (Elementary Level Local Boarding School) in Merkez-Diyarbakir in Turkey. Lale Deliveli and Burcu Islam delivering the proceeds of their fundraising at DIVA to Huseyin Unver, our treasurer. NEWS AND EVENTS The Turkish American community has a new and exciting way to stay connected to Turkey and fellow Turkish Americans while enjoying the satisfaction of making a difference for those left behind. The Bridges of Hope Project (BOHP) was born under the leadership of Cigdem A. Acar, an immigration lawyer and an active member of the Turkish-American community, and made its public debut at a community event on May 24th in New York City. The event was attended by an audience of over 60 Turkish Americans and the Turkish media, and featured Leona Forman, founder and president of the Brazil Foundation, one of the leading models of diaspora philanthropy and an advisor to BOHP. BOHP took the opportunity to introduce its mission, people, and plans and asked the Turkish American community to join them as volunteers and advisors. The volunteers of the Bridges of Hope Project have been heartened and invigorated by the response to the event from the community. The group proceeded with the next steps – including incorporation as a New York nonprofit corporation, grantee selection, outreach to donors, advisors, and volunteers, and planning other events that will once again bring together the community and fill their hearts with hope and desire to help. The May 24 event Sponsors included the Acar Law Firm, PLLC, Marmara Manhattan, Tulumba.com, Kedimedia and Zeytinia. The project will build bridges between the United States and Turkey, the privileged and the disadvantaged, the young and the old, and the members of the Turkish diaspora community in the United States and eventually around the world. Turkish immigrants in the United States have accomplished much over the past few decades, gained self-confidence and financial resources, and started leaving their mark on the landscape, infrastructure and fabric of their adopted home. In addition to the highly successful Turkish businesses, they enjoy significant accomplishments in medicine, law, arts, culture, science, and even American politics. The most recent fire within this community, waiting to be tapped, is organized, strategic, and widespread philanthropy. Many non-profit Turkish-American organizations, as well as individual efforts, have been springing up throughout the various parts of the country to pursue charitable giving directed towards Turkey. Accomplished leaders of the Turkish-American community are wishing to give back to the country of their birth and to bring about sustainable social change. What is now needed is a "tipping point" to turn these existing charitable efforts into a widespread movement and to make philanthropy, engagement, and activism a staple of the Turkish-American community. With this realization, a group of young, highly committed idealists of diverse academic and professional backgrounds have come together and created the Bridges of Hope Project . The Bridges of Hope Project 's long-term objective is to become a virtual bridge of hope between the Turkish-American community, as well as other friends in the United States, and Turkey. The project seeks to mobilize corporations, professional groups, and individuals interested in contributing to the improvement of social conditions in all regions of Turkey. In addition, the project would like to encourage social entrepreneurs in the development of new strategies to combat Turkey's social problems. The core values of the project, exercised by its founders and volunteers and demanded of its donors and beneficiaries, are transparency, fairness, and accountability. As a first initiative, BOHP will raise funds for educational projects that will give hope and opportunity to Turkish children and youth to pursue their education and realize their potential. BOHP will reach out to potential supporters mainly through events and its website. The founders of BOHP envision that the project will serve as the groundwork for their long-term goal of increased philanthropy and engagement towards the advancement of Turkey. BOHP will employ a thorough selection process to determine organizations in Turkey that will receive funds and resources and will require grantees to report back with measurable outcomes as well as the real life stories of the beneficiaries. BOHP has compiled an extensive list of Turkish nonprofits that will receive a "Request for Proposal" from the project. The process has already given BOHP a chance to learn much about the Turkish nonprofit sector, to meet its leaders, and to gather the counsel of other experienced philanthropists. BOHP will select organizations that best demonstrate a successful track record in supporting children, youth and their educational pursuits. Other selection criteria will include organizational qualities such as strong leadership and governance, commitment to financial and programmatic accountability, and cost effectiveness, as well as programmatic criteria such as equal opportunity for girls and boys and concentrated, meaningful impact.