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.

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.

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.

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.