Azerbaijan Society of America Honors Centennial Anniversary of the Great Azerbaijani Politician the National Leader of Azerbaijan President Heydar Aliyev

NYC- A memorable event was held in New York City's prestigious Yale Club to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of a great leader, Heydar Aliyev. He was known as the architect of modern-day independent Azerbaijan. The event was attended by H.E. Ambassador Yashar Aliyev, the Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, H.E. Aslı Güven, Deputy Permanent Representative of Türkiye to the United Nations, Mr. Vugar Gurbanov, Counselor at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in DC, Honorable Reyhan Özgür, New York Consul General of Turkish Republic, Honorable Mehmet Dana, the Representative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) in New York, Honorable Raushan Yesbulatova, the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN, Mr. David Dangoor, President of the American Sephardi Federation, and members of the Azerbaijani-Americans and Elshad Aliyev, Deputy chairman of the Azerbaijan Republic State Committee on work with Diaspora.

United in Donations: BTF's Earthquake Relief Fund Exceeds $10 Million

Over 50 thousand people, with the majority from the United States, have contributed to Bridge to Turkey Funds's 2023 earthquake relief efforts, showcasing global support and unity. The earthquake relief fund raised over $10,000,000, with 40% of the funds utilized so far, supporting immediate needs and ongoing rebuilding programs. BTF differs from other nonprofits as it sends 100% of the donations directly to those in need without any fees, relying on volunteers to work on projects until completion. Neslihan Önder Spada, BTF New York / New Jersey Circle Leader and Philanthropist at Bridge to Türkiye Fund told their effort.

Rising Turkish Entrepreneurs in the American Restaurant Business

By Cemil Ozyurt - The number of food and beverage establishments owned by Turks or offering Turkish cuisine in the states of New York and New Jersey has reached 300. A comprehensive list of Turkish-owned or foreign-owned but Turkish cuisine-serving dining establishments was compiled in a study conducted by TURKOFAMERICA magazine. In New York and New Jersey, there are nearly 300 establishments operating in categories such as fine dining, authentic Turkish cuisine, steakhouse, seafood restaurant, fast food, cafe, lounge, bistro, diner, bakery, pizza & pide salon, hookah lounge, food trucks, and catering. While the number of businesses owned by Turkish entrepreneurs in America was around 50 in 2009, there has been a noticeable increase in the last 10 years. Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 until now, nearly 100 businesses have been established.

Elvis Baez's Journey from Car Sales to Cigar Lounge with a Magnificent View of New York

Elvis Baez is the son of a family who migrated from the Dominican Republic to Union City, New Jersey in early 1970’s. After getting education from Memorial High School, he pursued courses at Bergen Community College, furthering his education. His first professional job was in car sales. After gaining about five years of experience in the industry, he transitioned into album production in 1996. Along with his two brothers, he rented a studio and produced albums under the name LR Records from 1996 to 2004. Elvis developed a fondness for cigars at the age of 18. It was also the year when his first child was born. His father used to smoke cigarettes, so Elvis asked him not to smoke cigarettes around his son. His father respected his decision and quit smoking cigarettes around his grandchild, but Elvis’s brother introduced him to cigars instead. He recalls, "I asked my father not to smoke around my son, but I ended up starting cigars myself."

"The Dynamic Duo: Hayrettin and Tolga's Journey from Viral Projects to Career Transformations"

One of the recent viral videos on social media features a group of Americans cruising the streets of Manhattan in a TOFAS-branded Doğan SLX, with comedian Hayrettin behind the wheel and Americans in the backseat jamming to Cengiz Kurtoğlu, a Turkish musician, record producer, lyricist, songwriter, composer, and pianist. In Times Square, they enjoy döner kebab next to their Doğan SLX. Ali Zivalioğlu, who brought the TOFAS SLX to America, is originally from Giresun and is a truck driver residing in New Jersey. The car is his childhood love as well. Comedian Hayrettin has become one of the most talked-about names on social media thanks to such content. Behind his success stands the mastermind, manager Tolga Doğruer. Shooting videos while touring the streets of Manhattan in an old model car imported from Turkey has become one of their recent fascinating projects.

Uniting Hearts and Resources: TPF's $19M Contributions to Turkey's Earthquake Victims

 

Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF) is a non-profit organization based in the United States that has raised the highest amount of donations for earthquake relief in Turkey, particularly in the earthquake that occurred on February 6, 2023. TPF's Director, Şenay Ataselim, sat down for an interview to discuss the organization's relief efforts and how the funds are utilized. The TPF Türkiye Earthquake Relief Fund primarily focuses on providing project-based grants to non-profit organizations based in Turkey. These organizations are selected through an open call for proposals, but only those that are non-political and non-religious are eligible to apply. TPF ensures that all their non-profit partners undergo a rigorous due diligence process to ensure their effectiveness and equivalence.

Innovative Brands Flourish in the American Industrial Kitchen Industry with Galaxy Group

Ten years ago, Atlantic Supermarket Equipment start up made a significant breakthrough for the industrial kitchen industry when they took their first steps into the American market in Brooklyn. Hakan İnan and his partners imported products from Türkiye, which gradually gained recognition in the market. Hakan İnan, CEO and co-founder of Galaxy Group, an American company that imports kitchen equipment from Türkiye, shared insights into their journey. Galaxy Group currently supplies over 150 products to the American market. Their main suppliers include Ugur, Empero, Kaplanlar, Izodoor, Inoksan and Capri The Group, aiming to distribute its industrial kitchen and supermarket equipment products wholesale throughout the United States, held a grand opening on May 16th, 2023, in Kearny, New Jersey.

The King of Meze

Fair Lawn, NJ - When he arrived at New York JFK Airport from Turkey, he had only $80 in his pocket and a lot of debts to pay off. He started his career in the culinary world and eventually rose to become the chef of a five-star hotel in Cyprus. He learned the ropes of the industry at his uncle's food factory in Osmaniye, a southern province of Turkey. He worked in every department of the factory that served meals to three thousand people daily, focusing on the art of making mezes. It was his intricate presentation of sea bass, shaped like a knitting pattern, that earned him the title of Golden Chef of the Year in a competition he participated in Istanbul back in 2011.
After coming to America, he worked in a Turkish restaurant to save up money. He attended a language course for three years to improve his English skills. In search of his own restaurant, he became interested in a place in Fair Lawn that had been operating under the name Istanbul Café for five years. On June 16, 2018, he opened his restaurant named AdA Mediterranean Brasserie in a city with a predominant Jewish and Russian population and relatively few Turkish residents. "The Jewish and Russian customers are already familiar with our cuisine. Instead of looking for a well-known place, my criteria were centered around the potential customer base," says Chef Erhan Gezer.

Eyüp Ulu: The Unsung Hero of the Largest Disaster Relief Campaign: Mobilizing Turkish-Americans for Earthquake Aid

One of the greatest disasters of the century, the earthquake that struck on February 6, 2023, affecting 11 provinces in Turkey, prompted Turkish-Americans in the United States to mobilize for aid efforts. Online campaigns were launched, and people came together to donate clothing, medical supplies, tents, and various other materials. However, questions arose as to how and where the aid would be organized. The logistics company PortX, located in Carlstadt, New Jersey, became the central hub for the relief campaign on the East Coast. With the assistance of around 300 volunteers, nearly 200 containers of relief supplies were packaged at the PortX warehouse.

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The Success Story of PuffCity: America's Fastest-Growing Vape Franchise

İsmail Alptekin, the founder of PuffCity, the fastest-growing franchise company in the vaping industry in the United States, shares the story of the company's success and its plans for expansion. Since its establishment in 2014, PuffCity has become the most recognized brand in the industry through strategic planning, innovative design, and meticulous execution. The company's all-in-one concept caters to the diverse needs of both traditional and contemporary customers. PuffCity aims to open hundreds of new stores nationwide, offering convenient access to a wide range of vaping products and accessories. With their proven business model and expertise in the franchising industry, they are confident in their ability to achieve this ambitious goal. The company's focus on identifying and meeting customer needs ensures that they stay at the forefront of the industry.

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