Stating that Turkish Red Crescent started its journey of kindness 158 years ago on June 11, 1868, Fatma Meriç Yılmaz celebrated the birthday of the association. Pointing to the future vision of the institution, Yılmaz said, “We are laying the foundation of the Plasma Fractionation Facility with the help of our President. It’s a great honor for us. Today, on the one hand, we commemorate our history, we show loyalty to our history, on the other hand, we welcome and thank our valuable donors, volunteers, and Red Crescent supporters, and on the other hand, we are taking an important step not only for the future of our Red Crescent but also for the future of Turkey. he said. Yılmaz emphasized that the Turkish Red Crescent has become a charity movement that rushes to the troubles of the oppressed all over the world and is the first to turn on the light in times of disaster, and said: If this charity movement reached more than 45 million people last year, many anonymous heroes of goodness contributed to the prayers of these people and the oppressed. This story, the story of kindness, 158 years, is not actually the story of an institution. The story of our citizen who gave his own blood for the healing of a patient he did not know. The story of our volunteers who leave their own pain and rush to the pain of others in earthquakes, floods and fires, even though they are themselves victims of disaster. Stating that every volunteer and every donor who will be awarded today represents the power of goodness, Yılmaz stated that every award given shows that goodness is contagious. Yılmaz stated that they operate in 44 countries abroad and that the aid entrusted to them by donors is delivered to those in need and prayers of kindness are conveyed to the donors. Underlining that Gaza is experiencing the greatest atrocity the world has ever seen today, Yılmaz said: Women and children in Gaza are fighting hunger to find bread there. They are trying to find a place to lay their heads. With the contribution of our donors, 2.5 million Gazans in Gaza, who today can access a bite of bread through our soup kitchens and receive healthcare services, send their greetings and prayers to you. he said. Yılmaz emphasized that Türkiye is the country that provides the most aid to Gaza and said that, thanks to the contributions of donors, the Turkish Red Crescent is the association that provides aid to the most countries and reaches out to the most oppressed among 192 national societies. Pointing out that the work carried out is not a coincidence, Yılmaz noted that this success was possible thanks to the donors’ trust in the Turkish Red Crescent to hand over their trusts and the volunteers’ efforts for good by sacrificing their time and opportunities. Yılmaz, We Red Crescent members know that as long as our nation is behind us and this spirit of charity of our nation is passed on from generation to generation, the Red Crescent will continue to grow for centuries.