Historic Kandilli Kız Lisesi, made into Sakıp Sabancı Kandilli Education and Culture Center upon being repaired with the contributions from Hacı Ömer Sabancı Vakfı and Istanbul Governorship and with the lead by Kandilli Kız Lisesi Kültür ve Eğitim Vakfı (KANKEV), was opened.
Opening ceremony of Sakıp Sabancı Kandilli Education and Culture Center was attended by Muammer Güler, Governor of Istanbul, Ömer Balıbey, Provincial Director of Education, Türkan Sabancı, wife of the late Sakıp Sabancı, Güler Sabancı, Chairman of Board of Directors of Sabancı Holding, Prof. Dr. Türkan Saylan, Chairman of Board of Directors of KANKEV and many other guests.
Delivering a speech in the inauguration, Türkan Sabancı said that burning down of Adile Sultan Palace, which used to serve as Kandilli Kız Lisesi, terribly upset his deceased husband Sakıp Sabancı, who attached great importance to education and culture during his lifetime.
Reminding that Sakıp Sabancı donated 3 trillion TL for the repair of the building upon reaching agreement with Muammer Güler, Governor of Istanbul, on October 17, 2003, Türkan Sabancı said he even donated 3.5 trillion TL more to that building with the supplementary protocol he made in his sickbed 3 days before his death.
Funds for realizing the project were mainly provided by the personal contributions of the late Sakıp Sabancı and Istanbul Governorship. Sabancı family, carrying out its all charity activities through Hacı Ömer Sabancı Vakfı (VAKSA) for the last 31 years, has now added a new one to its numerous ever lasting works that include culture centers, social facilities, libraries, spots facilities, schools, and Sabancı University.