Good afternoon friends,
It is with a heavy heart that we regret to inform you of the massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred this weekend in Turkey. As the death toll presently surpasses 300 victims, Istanbul Center has decided to initiate a fund in the Southeast U.S. to help the most affected cities. For as you may know, this large earthquake struck Turkey yesterday morning, Sunday October 23rd 2011 around 10:40 a.m. The Eastern cities of Van and Erciswere hit the hardest and most directly by the powerful quake, causing thousands of buildings to come crashing down, injuring more than 1,500 people, killing hundreds and trapping hundreds more. Multiple aftershocks, most topping 5.0 and one even reaching 6.0 on the Richter scale, led to further infrastructural damage and loss of life in the wake of the initial earthquake.
 Accordingly, Istanbul Center has organized a relief fund, the Istanbul Center Turkey Earthquake Relief Fund so that interested parties and friends of Turkey and The Center may be able to donate to both the relief and re-construction efforts taking place in the areas hit most hard by the earthquake.
This is a most critical time, as thousands of relief workers are digging survivors from the rubble and assessing the extensive damage caused, and it is important that we not only keep the affected people and those lives lost in our thoughts and prayers but that we proactively assist them in any way that we can.
We thus ask that you please join us in providing some relief, support, and empathy to the victims of the earthquake and their families in Turkey. You may do this by making checks out to "Istanbul Center Turkey Earthquake Relief Fund." Please send your donation checks to our Midtown Office address: Two Midtown Plaza 1349 West Peachtree Street Suite 1010 Atlanta, GA 30309.
Should you want to wire your donation directly to Istanbul Center's Turkey Earthquake Relief Fund account, the Wells Fargo account number is as follows: 6020584402.
In addition to making donations via checks and direct wirings, a Paypal account has been created and will be ready for donations soon, as well. We will keep you posted in regards to this information!
Any and all help is greatly appreciated!
Many thanks,
Istanbul Center Staff
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We at the Society of Universal Dialogue are deeply saddened by the terrible shooting that happened in Colorado. Our sincere prayers and thoughts are with the victims and the families affected by this incident. 
