The Chair of the Board of Trustees of Sabanci Foundation (EFC member), Guler Sabanci, has been awarded with the French state award the “Légion d’Honneur.” 

Ms Sabanci was presented with the “Officier insignia” of the French Republic’s highest award the Légion d’Honneur during a ceremony at the Sabanci University Sakip Sabanci Museum in Istanbul.

Ms Sabanci was described as an active, modern and sophisticated woman acting as a role model for all the women in Turkey by the French Minister of Economy, Industry and Employment, Christine Lagarde.

On receiving the award, Ms Sabanci said that she was “well aware that my responsibility grows with such an honour.  We all know that our countries, which have the opportunity to actualise things together, have certain problems concerning the EU issue.  During such a period, I know I am taking the responsibility to contribute to relations.”

Created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Légion d’Honneur is the highest award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France, regardless of the social status or the nationality of the recipients.  Guler Sabanci has previously received state awards from Italy, Belgium, Spain and Austria.

In 2009, Guler Sabanci was awarded the Raymond Georis Prize for Innovative Philanthropy.

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