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40-YEAR-OLD FOUNDATION WINS A CARNEGIE FOR KOC FAMILY
Today's Zaman
17 October 2009, Saturday
The Vehbi Koc Foundation's 40 years of philanthropic work have won
the Koc family a prestigious Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.
Carnegie Medals of Philanthropy are awarded every two years to one
or more individuals who "have dedicated their private wealth to the
public good and who have sustained their philanthropic activities."
The awards are named for Scottish-American businessman Andrew
Carnegie. The Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy is a prize that is
conferred jointly by the over 20 institutions Carnegie founded around
the world and is known as the "Nobel Prize of philanthropy." The
medals are awarded in a different city every year.
Koc Holding Honorary Chairman Rahmi Koc, the son of Vehbi Koc,
accepted the award on behalf of his family at an award ceremony
held at the New York Public Library on Thursday. Speaking there, he
summarized his feelings with the following words: "This is without
a doubt one of the most important moments of my life." Saying that
it was of great symbolic importance for the Vehbi Koc Foundation
to be recognized with such an award in its 40th year, he said:
"Andrew Carnegie's words on how it's more difficult to spend money
wisely than to earn it were frequently repeated by our father, and
they became our guide in philanthropy. As his children, we continued
his legacy and his philosophy."
His older sister, Semahat Arsel, who administrates the foundation,
called the award "a blessing from God to us." Other recipients
of the award this year included New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg;
former Citigroup CEO Sanford Weill and his wife, Joan Weill; and
Intel cofounder Gordon Moore.
The fact that Armenian-American Vartan Gregoryan, a member of the award
coordination committee, wrote a letter of congratulations to Koc ahead
of the Carnegie ceremony, which took place after major protocols were
signed between Turkey and Armenia last week, is being viewed by some
pundits as a show of support from the Armenian diaspora in the United
States for dialogue between Turkey and Armenia.
Accompanying Koc in New York were Arsel and Koc's sons Mustafa,
Omer and Ali Koc. He said in his speech that he was greatly honored
to accept the award on behalf of his family and country.
The honorary chairman of Koc Holding explained how his father was
affected by philanthropic foundations during a 1946 trip to the US.
"My father would say: 'In this country, you have to give back a segment
of what you make to the community. These structures can be in the form
of equipment or scholarships.' ... Immediately after the Second World
War, he saw that there were large foundations behind major hospitals,
universities and museums in the US. The love of humanity had been
institutionalized; he was greatly affected by this," he said.
When Vehbi Koc returned to Turkey, his son explained, he tried to
establish a foundation, but the nation lacked the necessary legal
framework. "For 23 years, he worked without tiring with different prime
ministers, governments and parliamentarians to create such a law. In
the end, he was successful and established the first foundation in
Turkey, which carried his own name."
The Vehbi Koc Foundation is headed by Rahmi Koc's older sister, Arsel,
and is known for its support of education, health and culture.
Today's Zaman
17 October 2009, Saturday
The Vehbi Koc Foundation's 40 years of philanthropic work have won
the Koc family a prestigious Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.
Carnegie Medals of Philanthropy are awarded every two years to one
or more individuals who "have dedicated their private wealth to the
public good and who have sustained their philanthropic activities."
The awards are named for Scottish-American businessman Andrew
Carnegie. The Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy is a prize that is
conferred jointly by the over 20 institutions Carnegie founded around
the world and is known as the "Nobel Prize of philanthropy." The
medals are awarded in a different city every year.
Koc Holding Honorary Chairman Rahmi Koc, the son of Vehbi Koc,
accepted the award on behalf of his family at an award ceremony
held at the New York Public Library on Thursday. Speaking there, he
summarized his feelings with the following words: "This is without
a doubt one of the most important moments of my life." Saying that
it was of great symbolic importance for the Vehbi Koc Foundation
to be recognized with such an award in its 40th year, he said:
"Andrew Carnegie's words on how it's more difficult to spend money
wisely than to earn it were frequently repeated by our father, and
they became our guide in philanthropy. As his children, we continued
his legacy and his philosophy."
His older sister, Semahat Arsel, who administrates the foundation,
called the award "a blessing from God to us." Other recipients
of the award this year included New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg;
former Citigroup CEO Sanford Weill and his wife, Joan Weill; and
Intel cofounder Gordon Moore.
The fact that Armenian-American Vartan Gregoryan, a member of the award
coordination committee, wrote a letter of congratulations to Koc ahead
of the Carnegie ceremony, which took place after major protocols were
signed between Turkey and Armenia last week, is being viewed by some
pundits as a show of support from the Armenian diaspora in the United
States for dialogue between Turkey and Armenia.
Accompanying Koc in New York were Arsel and Koc's sons Mustafa,
Omer and Ali Koc. He said in his speech that he was greatly honored
to accept the award on behalf of his family and country.
The honorary chairman of Koc Holding explained how his father was
affected by philanthropic foundations during a 1946 trip to the US.
"My father would say: 'In this country, you have to give back a segment
of what you make to the community. These structures can be in the form
of equipment or scholarships.' ... Immediately after the Second World
War, he saw that there were large foundations behind major hospitals,
universities and museums in the US. The love of humanity had been
institutionalized; he was greatly affected by this," he said.
When Vehbi Koc returned to Turkey, his son explained, he tried to
establish a foundation, but the nation lacked the necessary legal
framework. "For 23 years, he worked without tiring with different prime
ministers, governments and parliamentarians to create such a law. In
the end, he was successful and established the first foundation in
Turkey, which carried his own name."
The Vehbi Koc Foundation is headed by Rahmi Koc's older sister, Arsel,
and is known for its support of education, health and culture.