The 4th Phoenix Awards found their winners

The 4th Phoenix Awards found their winners

The "Phoenix Awards" which are given to the individuals, institutions, and organizations who take "the addiction-free and healthy living" as a mission and support this fight with their words and actions, were presented for the 4th time to their winners with a great ceremony held on 3rd March in the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall.

Fighting against addiction for almost a century, Green Crescent rewards with the Phoenix Award the individuals, institutions and organizations who take "the addiction-free, healthy living" as a mission and support this fight with their words and actions. The award ceremony, which was organized this year for the 4th time under the auspices of the Presidency and with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was held on 3 March and took place in Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall.

In addition to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Emine Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak, Minister of Youth and Sports Akif Çağatay Kilic, Istanbul Governor Vasip Şahin, Mayor of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Dr. Kadir Topbaş and many guests attended the ceremony. A total of 8 categories of people and institutions from art and culture to sports, academia and politics, were awarded as "The Best Green Crescent Enthusiast".

Erdoğan: “We must fight against addictions all together”

Speaking at the ceremony, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that these awards, which have become more traditional and have gained an international dimension since the last year, have contributed to raising awareness. President Erdoğan congratulated the sportsmen, artists, journalists, academics, organizations, and companies who won the award. Mr. President pointed out that in contrast to other awards the Green Crescent Phoenix Awards give very serious responsibilities to its owner, and that it is not easy to have this honour. The President stated that this award means success, work, dedication, gratitude as well as a long-term responsibility of duty. He also said that he believes that each award winner will act more carefully in his business and private life from now on. Mr. President congratulated everyone who was involved in this successful award organization.

Celebrating the 97th anniversary of Green Crescent, which has been struggling with addictions and harmful habits since 1920, President Erdoğan also commemorated all Green Crescent deceased servants. Wishing success to Green Crescent in its century-old fight against addiction, Erdoğan commemorated with gratitude all those who contributed to promotion of Green Crescent such as Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman, Eşref Edib, Şeyhülislam İbrahim Haydari Efendi, and Dr. Until Ayhan Songar.

Reminding that the Green Crescent does not operate only within the borders of the country, Erdoğan said that as a brand of Turkey, the Green Crescent has guided the establishment of Green Crescents in different parts of the world.

“We keep our promises in our fight against addiction”

In his speech, the Green Crescent President Prof. Dr. Mücahit Öztürk said, “We draw our way by taking advantage of the experience of our past to protect our youth, our future from addictions. We strive to bring our efforts from the capillaries of the community to the international arena. We actually make a promise; we are committed to a society that is far away from addictions, and is healthy, peaceful, loving, knowledgeable, and self-confident.”

Thanking President Erdoğan for his support, Öztürk also celebrated "The Best Green Crescent Enthusiast" names and institutions awarded by the Phoenix Award for their lifestyle.

Indicating that this year they will attend at the Green Crescent Week with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and that they will say “PROMISE!” for a healthy life without addiction, Öztürk said:

“Our Green Crescent, established by our patriots who foresee future dangers in the tough times of 1920 to fight addictions, is now 97 years old! We are approaching a century! During this 97th birthday celebration week, I thank everyone who made great efforts until today for the Green Crescent; I commemorate with gratitude our ancestors and wish a good longevity to those who are alive. I also thank all of you, dear Green Crescent friends, for your support. I also congratulate all the people and institutions that have been awarded the Phoenix Award. Thanks to all the Green Crescent lovers who support our struggle with addictions, we are more hopeful and determined for the future.”

The awards found their owners.

  • Professor Dr. Kültegin Ögel (Academy)
  • İsmail Acar (arts)
  • Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım (Politics)
  • Ertem Şener (Media)
  • Şahika Ercümen (Sports)
  • Koleksiyon Mobilya and Habertürk Newspaper (Social responsibility)
  • Professor George De Leon (International Solidarity)

Phoenix Award Winners

Academy/Prof. Dr. Kültegin Ögel: Ögel, who is known both as an academician, an association manager and a person who struggles with addictions, is also working on motivational interview technique and mindfulness therapy. He is the founder of the Cigarette, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SAMBA) and the consultant of Green Crescent’s YEDAM where free psycho-social support for alcohol and drug addicts and their relatives is given.

Art/İsmail Acar: One of the leading names of Turkish contemporary art, he is a painter and an illustrator. Known for his work both nationally and internationally, he has had 35 solo exhibitions and over 40 mixed exhibitions. For many years, he has been transferring some of the revenues from all the exhibitions he has made to social responsibility projects. He provides support to many foundations and social assistance organizations operating in Turkey and abroad, especially to Green Crescent.

Politics/Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım: Within the scope of the actions of the Supreme Council for the Suppression of Drugs, established under the Prime Ministry- and where Green Crescent is the only NGO member- he has closely followed the prevention, protection, treatment and operation studies for a total struggle against drugs. Yildirim who had a big contribution in the improvement of Turkey in this field is also the chairman of various non-governmental organizations.

Media/Ertem Şener: Sener, who is involved in social responsibility and humanitarian projects, supports projects of directing children to sport. By opening the school in Turkey of Arsenal Football Club which is one of the best football clubs in the world, Sener contributed, in terms of correct football education, to strengthening the child-football-health relationship in Turkey.

International Struggle Award/Prof. George De Leon: He works as a Clinical Psychologist at the Department of Psychiatry in Faculty of Medicine of the New York University. He is the founder and developer of the therapeutic community model in substance abuse treatment. Therapeutic Community is a model that allows dependents to be rehabilitated without breaking away from society, by being involved to social life and gaining life skills. To date, De Leon has trained hundreds of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and other health professionals on therapeutic community therapy. De Leon who is also the author of the Therapeutic Community book has also published many scientific papers on this model. This practice has been recognized as an important rehabilitation model in the international arena and has been put into practice in the treatment of addiction in many countries.

Sports/Sahika Ercümen: Ercümen who is a national free-diving player and underwater hockey player is also a world free-diving recorder. She gave support by taking part in all activities of the Green Crescent.

Social Responsibility/Koleksiyon Mobilya: Within the scope of social responsibility, Koleksiyon Mobilya is a company that aims to support the needs of many associations, schools and dormitories. It is the furniture supporter of Cerrahpasa and Urfa/Eyyubiye YEDAM headquarters, opened by the Green Crescent for rehabilitation support to addicts and their families.