What exactly does TPFH do? The mission of TPFH is to enable donations of tile, tile-related materials, and labor to non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, to strengthen communities, and improve lives. Lynn Labuda, executive director at Tile Partners for Humanity, Inc., answered TURKOFAMERICA?s questions. Can you tell us about your organization's accomplishments? What is your mission? In 2003, TPFH made a 5-year pledge to Habitat for Humanity on behalf of the tile industry to donate more than $1.25 million of tile, tile materials and labor to HFHI and more than doubled that goal. In 2008, TPFH made a new 5-year pledge to Habitat for Humanity of $2.5 million in donations and we are proud to announce that we will meet and exceed this pledge in July, 2010. Since 2003, TPFH has donated more than $20 million in tile and related materials to Habitat for Humanity and other nonprofit organizations. The mission of TPFH is to enable donations of tile, tile-related materials, and labor to non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity to strengthen communities and improve lives. Who supports your organization? How many tile businesses work with your organization? TPFH is supported by the tile industry and accepts funding and donations of tile, tile related materials, labor and installation training as well as other construction-related materials. We are guided by six industry organizations (The Tile Doctor, NTCA, TCNA, CTDA, CTEF, and The Tile Heritage Foundation) whose representatives sit on the TPFH Board of Directors, as well as representatives from MAPEI, Pan American Ceramics, Habitat for Humanity International and Mountain Resource Center. TPFH partners with manufacturers, distributors, independent stores and contractors throughout the US. These industry partners provide tile, setting materials, tools, floor preparation materials, cleaners and sealers, and labor and installation training to Habitat affiliates and other nonprofit organizations interested in building with tile. How do you find needy people to help? We have worked very closely with Habitat for Humanity over the past 8 years to assist affiliates in building thousands of homes. TPFH also partners with other worthy nonprofit organizations that request donations of tile materials. Can you give us an idea of the amount of your donations? Approximately $20 million in materials since 2003. Can international companies join your organization (for example, could a Turkish company from Turkey support your organization?) Today, TPFH operates only in the US, but we would love to partners with any Turkish companies that have a presence in the US and are willing to donate materials to help us achieve our mission. Would you like to add anything? Tile Partners for Humanity was formed in December, 2002 when Curt Rapp of The Tile Doctor and Gray LaFortune of the Ceramic Tile Institute of America realized that the industry?s excess tile disposed of in landfills could be put to much better use. They worked with Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) to create the partnership which serves to utilize this excess inventory, raise awareness of HFHI within the industry and to solicit donations of materials, labor and other support for HFHI.
Tile Partners for Humanity (TPFH) is a partnership between American tile industry and Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit organization working to eliminate substandard housing around the world. Since 2003, Alpharetta, GA based TPFH has donated more than $20 million in tile and related materials to Habitat for Humanity and other nonprofit organizations.
The American-Turkish Council (ATC), the largest Turkish-American business group, will hold its 31st annual meeting this year in Washington between June 10 and 13, the group has announced on its website. With more than 700 participants, the conference provides an opportunity to expand business relationships, showcase products, interact with senior government officials and military officers, exchange information and hear outstanding speakers from the United States and Turkey. This year’s meetings will be held in the U.S. capital’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel. 
The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) and the Assembly of Turkish American Associations hosted twelve Members of Congress, Turkey's Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Namik Tan, and dozens of congressional staffers at a breakfast reception to mark the 60th anniversary of Turkey's NATO membership. In his remarks at the event, Ambassador Tan highlighted Turkey's crucial role in NATO's success and underscored that a strong U.S.-Turkey relationship based on shared values of "democracy, human rights, and the rule of law" has helped NATO maintain stability despite continual global challenges. 
News Corp, Time Warner and TPG Capital have placed bids of up to around $1 billion for the ATV-Sabah media unit of Turkey's Calik Holding, three sources close to the matter told Reuters on Monday. Calik Holding, which also has interests in energy and finance, paid $1.1 billion in 2007 for ATV-Sabah, one of Turkey's largest media groups, and two of the sources said the company did not want to make a loss on the deal. 
Topbas called on U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents 1210 U.S. cities, to work with UCLG and support UCLG to help create habitable cities. Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas attended the annual meeting of U.S. Conference of Mayors held in Baltimore on Friday.
Latin American countries should have stronger business ties with Turkey, the head of a Turkish business organization said Friday at a business congress organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, or CANACO, in Mexico City.
Retired Maj. Gen. Elmer Pendleton, a former U.S. official who devoted his life to the development of Turkish-American relations, died Thursday at his home in Virginia, the American-Turkish Council, or ATC, announced late Thursday. "General Pendleton died suddenly and peacefully at home this morning," the ATC said in a statement. Pendleton, who retired in 1986, was 83 years old and is survived by his wife, Anne, and three children.
The premier gathering of leaders from Turkey and the United States, which is jointly organised by American-Turkish Council, Turkish American Business Council and Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Committee, will last until October 20. Throughout the two-day Conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, Turkey-U.S. relations will be discussed in-depth and participants will hear from such government and business leaders as Turkey's State Minister for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan; U.S. National Security Advisor General James Jones; the President and Chairman of the U.S. Export-Import Bank Fred Hochberg; the Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Poneman; Turkey's Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Feridun Sinirlioglu, Undersecretary for National Defense Murad Bayar; TOBB President Rifat Hisarciklioglu; and the Chairman of Koc Holding Mustafa Koc. 
Turkey may obtain a seat on the International Monetary Fund’s board of directors as a result of talks to give emerging economies more say at the institution, Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said. “There is an effort to win representative status for Turkey on the board,” Babacan said in a telephone interview today. “But there is no final decision.” 
