Hayrettin Karaca commemorated with longing on the third anniversary of his death

Hayrettin Karaca, one of the Founding Honorary Presidents of TEMA Foundation, who dedicated his life to the protection of natural assets, was commemorated on the third anniversary of his death in a ceremony held at his grave in İstanbul and at the Karaca Arboretum, which he founded with his long-lasting efforts, in Yalova. On the anniversary of Karaca's death, the park, named after him was opened by Kadıköy Municipality in Yalova.

We organised a commemoration ceremony at Karaca Arboretum

A commemoration ceremony was also held for the Grandpa Earth in Karaca Arboretum, which he founded in Yalova in 1980. Yalova Governor Muammer Erol, Yalova Deputy Mayor Mustafa Tutuk, Yalova Provincial Council President Hasan Soygüzel, Kadıköy Mayor Mehmet Şahin, Çiftlikköy Mayor Ali Murat Silpagar, Çınarcık Mayor Numan Soyer, Subaşı Mayor Turan Canbay and Kaytazdere Mayor Ali Kangal attended the ceremony. Member of the Board of Trustees of the TEMA Foundation and Hayrettin Karaca's granddaughter Yeşne İren, Chairperson of the Board Deniz Ataç, General Manager Başak Yalvaç Özçağdaş and the Headquarters team, as well as TEMA Foundation Yalova Provincial Representative Arzu Demir and her representative team, Kocaeli Provincial Representative Nermin Tol, Bursa Provincial Representative Şaban Uyar and many nature lovers who love and value Hayrettin Karaca attended the ceremony.

“These lands will always remember him”

Speaking at the ceremony, TEMA Foundation Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Ms. Deniz Ataç said, “Every day we feel the loss of one of our Founding Honorary Presidents, Mr. Hayrettin Karaca, who passed away on January 20, 2020. Our deceased Grandpa Earth, Hayrettin Karaca, and Grandpa Leaf Ali Nihat Gökyiğit set out with the dream of reaching 1 million volunteers when they were establishing our Foundation years ago. Happily, we entered our 30th anniversary with this dream came true. Today, we consider TEMA Foundation, which has turned into a popular movement with more than 1 million volunteers, as its greatest legacy. It is very valuable for us to share this valuable heritage with more than 1 million volunteers by protecting nature, which is our home. We would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Hayrettin Karaca for this valuable path he opened for us. These lands will remember him forever.”

In addition, after the commemoration at the Karaca Arboretum, the park, named after Hayrettin Karaca, was opened in the Merkez Mahallesi Güzelyurt 7th Street, upon the decision of the Kadıköy Municipality Council.