FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2, 2005
Contact: Alex Barr, +44 (0) 141 333 9585 or Frances Donald, +44 (0) 1592 643 200

A host of the world’s foremost business figures, philanthropists and international commentators are to gather in Scotland, the birthplace of Andrew Carnegie, next October for a major event on the future of global philanthropy.

The new Scottish Parliament Building will host a gathering of more than 400 VIP guests from around the world for an international Symposium on some of the major global challenges facing philanthropists and their foundations, culminating in the presentation of the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy 2005.
The Carnegie Medal is the premier global award in the field of philanthropy and regarded as the “Nobel Prize” of philanthropy. Previous winners include Microsoft’s Bill Gates and his family , The Rockefeller  family, financier George Soros, the  Sainsbury family and media tycoon Ted Turner.

Dunfermline-born Andrew Carnegie is the founding father of modern philanthropy, having devoted his life to giving away his fortune (the equivalent of an estimated $15 billion today) after selling his steel empire at the beginning of the 20th Century.

The chair of the Carnegie UK Trust is William Thomson, great-grandson of Andrew Carnegie. He said: “It is not only a tremendous honour, but extremely fitting that such a prestigious global event is ‘coming home’ to Scotland.

“The Carnegie Medal was launched by the 22 Carnegie foundations around the world, to mark the centennial of Andrew Carnegie’s work as a philanthropist and is given every two years to individuals who, like him, have dedicated their private wealth to public good.
 
“Previous award ceremonies have been held in New York and Washington and we are delighted to be bringing together such a powerful and influential range of individuals from all over the world for what will undoubtedly be one of the most important and impressive events ever staged in Scotland.”

 The Carnegie Medal winners will be announced in  August.

An integral element of the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Programme, being held on
4 October 2005, will be a series of six high-profile debates, attended by businesspeople, politicians, academics and non governmental organisations from throughout the world on the challenges for philanthropy in addressing global concerns around:

  • Poverty and Health
  • Environment and Sustainable Development
  • Education
  • International Peace, Justice and Security
  • Democracy, Governance and Civil Society
  • The Fiscal, Legal and regulatory challenges for philanthropy 

Already confirmed for the debates are: 

  • Lord Robertson, former Secretary General of NATO
  • Sir Jonathon Porritt, leading environmentalist
  • Jessica Mathews, President Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
  • Sir Crispin Tickell, former British Ambassador to the UN
  • Adele Simmons, President Global Philanthropy Partnership and Senior Adviser World Economic Forum
  • Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • Rt Hon Robin Cook, former UK Government Foreign Secretary 
  • Lilia Shevtsova – political commentator Carnegie Moscow Centre
  • Jane Wales – President, Global Philanthropy Forum
  • Kumi Naidoo – CEO of Civicus, the world civil society forum.


Issued by The Big Partnership on behalf of the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.

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Partner contact details and additional quotes:
The Scottish Parliament:
Sally Coyne: +44 (0) 131 348 6265 RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
E-mail: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk

Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, the Rt Hon George Reid, MSP, said:

“Enterprise and compassion are fundamental Scottish values. 

“Our new parliamentary campus has been created as a place of conversation with the wider world.  The Carnegie Medal programme and awards will stimulate debate on how wealth creation can contribute to international peace, poverty reduction and sustainable development.”

The Scottish Parliament was established in 1999 as a devolved legislature within the United Kingdom.  It has wide responsibilities in such areas as education, enterprise, the environment, external affairs, health, housing, justice and transport.

The new Scottish Parliament is located in Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, opposite the Palace of Holyroodhouse.  Officially opened by the Queen in October 2004, it has been widely praised as one of the most exciting and important public buildings to be erected in the last 50 years.
For more information, please visit www.scottish.parliament.uk.


EventScotland
Diana Scott,
Communications & Media Manager,
Tel +44 (0) 131 472 2316 or visit www.eventscotland.org
 
David Williams, Chief Executive of EventScotland said:

"EventScotland is pleased to support The Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy 2005 and is delighted that the awards ceremony will take place in Scotland for the first time since their inception.  The work of the Andrew Carnegie Foundations is recognised on a global scale.  EventScotland’s mission is to enhance Scotland’s international profile and make Scotland one of the world’s foremost events destinations, bringing clear benefits for our economy, tourism sector, sport and culture.   This high-profile world-renowned event is yet another fabulous opportunity to showcase Scotland as a leading events destination. We look forward to welcoming visitors and media from around the globe to Scotland in October."


Note to Editors:
EventScotland is a joint venture between the Scottish Executive and VisitScotland.  It was created to deliver the Major Events Strategy published by the Scottish Executive in November 2002. The strategy is designed to maximise the benefits of existing events, to attract new events, to showcase our assets and to encourage more people to visit Scotland to experience at first hand major sporting, cultural and arts events being staged here.  

EventScotland’s mission is to enhance Scotland’s international profile and make Scotland one of  the world's fast developing events destinations, bringing clear benefits for our economy, tourism sector, sport and culture.

The City of Edinburgh Council
Tel: +44 131 200 2000 or visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk
Media contact: Britt Melville, Media and Communications Officer
Tel: +44 131 529 4427 Email: britt.melville@edinburgh.gov.uk

The Right Hon. Lesley Hinds, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, said:

‘Edinburgh has a great reputation for hosting prestigious international events and I’m very pleased the Carnegie foundations have chosen Edinburgh and Scotland as their host in 2005. This will be an important gathering of people from all over the world, giving high profile to global concerns such as poverty, health, education and international peace, and I look forward to welcoming them to Edinburgh.’ 

VisitScotland
Jenni Steele
European PR Manager
VisitScotland
23 Ravelston Terrace
Edinburgh EH4 3TP
Tel:   0131 472 2032
Fax:  0131 459 2434
e: jenni.steele@visitscotland.com

Philip Riddle, Chief Executive, VisitScotland commented:

“VisitScotland is delighted to be among the partners involved in attracting the Carnegie Medal to Scotland this year. We hugely support the aims of the Carnegie Trusts in their worldwide promotion of the work of Andrew Carnegie. We are certain that the occasion will provide us with the opportunity to showcase what excellent products Scotland and Edinburgh have to offer as the ideal destination for a leisure or business trip and that Scotland is well placed to host events of this calibre.”


Note To Editors:

Tourism is one of Scotland’s largest industries.  It employs 197,000 (9% of the workforce and 13% of the Highlands & Islands workforce) and it injects £4.5 billion annually into the Scottish economy (5% GDP).

Tourism pays the wages of more people than the oil, gas and whisky industries combined and employs over four times more than agriculture/fishing.

For every £1 VisitScotland spends on promotion £12 is generated in return on behalf of Scotland’s tourism industry.