Highlights 1993 - 2007

1993

  • $15,000 donated to The Highland Fund to purchase the prototype wide-width loom for the Harris Tweed industry
  • Reopened "Scotland House" in donated space at 575 Madison Avenue, New York City

1994

  • Inaugured annual Burns Night dinner
  • $10,000 donated to the John Muir Trust
  • $10,000 donated to Burns Statue restoration

1995

  • $17,000 donated to The Dunblane Fund
  • Sponsored reception in honor of Lord Elgin, Chief, Clan Bruce and Foundation, Honorary Sponsor
  • Presented, by invitation, to the Scottish Coalition an idea for its future
  • Co-founded Scottish Coalition, an informal organization of national American-Scottish cultural, heritage, arts and sporting organizations

1996

  • Sponsored inaugural annual John Muir Golf Tournament in partnership with NYC/Parks&Recreation
  • Supported inaugural ScotsFest, a Scotland the Brand commercial and cultural initiative to promote Scotland's food and beverage industry and its cultural resources
  • Sponsored Springfield, Massachusetts Military Tattoo at the Springfield Armory
  • Sponsor of Loon Mountain Highland Games

1997

  • Hosted inaugural Scottish Friends of The American Scottish Foundation gathering in Scotland at LennoxLove, seat of the Douglas-Hamiltons, Haddington, Scotland with "a Beating of the Retreat" performed by the Lowland Band of The Scottish Division
  • Supported second annual New York City ScotsFest
  • Presented, by invitation, to Scottish Coalition a plan for its future

1998

  • Supported Third Annual ScotsFest, in New York City
  • Sponsored U.S. premier of the film" The Boyhood of John Muir"
  • Supported Columbia Artists Management's, "Scotland The Brave" U.S. tour
  • Sponsored The Lowland Band of the Scottish Division's "Scottish Christmas" show at Town Hall
  • Co-sponsored with British American Business, Inc. a Scottish evening at Paul Stuart

1999

  • Sponsored inaugural National Tartan Day Parade, New York City
  • Co-sponsored with British American Business, Inc. a Scottish evening at Brooks Brothers
  • Presented Fettes College Pipe Band in concert in Central Park

2000

  • Sponsored second annual National Tartan Day Parade, New York City with Strathclyde Police Pipe Band
  • Sponsored inaugural National Tartan Day program, Washington, DC
  • Presented The Wallace Award to Senate Republican Majority Leader, Trent Lott on the steps of the Capitol Building
  • Sponsored inaugural Scottish Academic Forum featuring leading Scottish and American academics at the Smithsonian

2001

  • Sponsored National Tartan Day Parade, New York City with Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band
  • Presented The Wallace Award to Sir Sean Connery on the steps of the Capitol Building
  • Presented Scottish Academic Forum at the Cosmos Club, featuring leading Scottish and American academics
  • Dedicated The John Muir Trail in Van Cortland Park with Commissioner Henry Stern, Liz Hanna, John Muir's great, great, great granddaughter and Alison McGachy, Director of the Scottish John Muir Trust, in attendance
  • Presented a series of public performances featuring The Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards and The Pipes & Drums of the Scots Guards following September 11 in Washington Square Park, Central Park, Bryant Park, and the Cathedral of St. John The Devine, also opened the Rockefeller Ice Rink, and appeared on Good Morning America
  • Presented "Scotland and America: Intimate Strangers" symposium at Columbia University featuring academics from Scotland's five ancient Universities, together with Euan Baird, CEO of Schlumberger and Gerry T. Rice, World Bank as part of "UKwithNY"
  • Hosted "Signature of Scotland" dinner with Guest of Honor, The Right Honourable Helen Liddell MP, Secretary of State for Scotland
  • Implemented a Feasibility Study under professional management for a proposed fundraising campaign for the Foundation
  • Cooperated in promotion of "The Brave Man" documentary film on life of General William Alexander, (General Alexander played a critical role in the Battle of Long Island (Brooklyn) during The Revolution War), and financed the conversion of the film to UK format for viewing in Scotland
  • Established Foundation website based on pro bono services provided by Sunrise Solutions, Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Facilitated production of HBO's television program Sex and the City "Scottish Ball" Episode (June 2001)

2002

  • Launched fundraising campaign for the Foundation following successful completion of the Feasibility Study
  • Co-sponsored National Tartan Day program, New York City
  • Co-sponsored National Tartan Day program, Washington D.C
  • Co-sponsored Dewar's "Scots on Film" Festival, New York City
  • Co-sponsored tree planting ceremony involving First Minister Jack McConnell in Central Park, New York City
  • Presented "Scotland in the Global Economy" a Scottish Business Forum event involving Minister for Enterprise, Wendy Alexander and Martin Togneri, Director, Scottish Enterprise, at the PEPCO Center, Washington, D.C.
  • Presented an evening with the "Three Scots Tenors" at the National Geographic Society Arts Center, Washington, D.C.
  • Presented Scottish Academic Forum involving Scottish university academics at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington, D.C.
  • Established a National Tartan Day, New York Committee incorporating the St. Andrew Society of the State of New York, The New York Caledonian Club and The American Scottish Foundation
  • Sponsor of return visit of the Pipes & Drums, 1st Battalion Scots Guards to commemorate September 11. Public performances included Battery Park, Central Park, Madison Square Park and The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
  • Sponsored "Heilan Laddie", a CD of 1st Battalion Scots Guards' music performed on tour
  • Co-sponsored with NY Public Library at the Yorkville Branch Library a Celebration of the Centennial of Andrew Carnegie's gift to the New York Public Library in 1901 of $5,200,00 to build 65 Branch libraries
  • Consulted with Smithsonian Museum's curator of the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival regarding Scotland's participation in the 2003 Festival on the Mall

2003

  • Supported U.S. launch of Scotland Magazine
  • Co-sponsored as part of National Tartan Day New York Committee, National Tartan Day programs, New York City
  • Co-sponsored "Scots on Film" Festival, New York City
  • Presented Fifth Anniversary Salute to National Tartan Day at the Naumberg Bandshell in Central Park with Susan Stewart, New York City Commissioners Adrian Benepe and Brian Andersson, Wilson Kimball, Chief of Staff to Libby Pataki, and The Honourable Eric Milligan, Lord Provost, City of Edinburgh, in attendance.
  • Hosted Fifth Anniversary Reception for National Tartan Day at The Arsenal, Central Park
  • Present inaugural New York "American-Scottish Business Forum" at The American Conference Centers, New York City, featuring Spiro Rombatis CEO, Cyclacel; Donna Handford, PhD, Edinburgh University; Professor Joseph Rubin, Adjunct Professor International Affairs, Columbia University; Professor Brian Ashcroft, Director Fraser Institute and Gerry Hassan, Chairman, DESMOS 2020
  • Presented inaugural "National Tartan Day Debate" featuring members of the Oxford Union and Ducan Bruce, author "Mark of the Scots" and Arthur Herman, author "How The Scots invented the Modern World"
  • Developed and copyrighted New York National Tartan Day logo
  • Developed and copyrighted New York National Tartan Day advertisement
  • Presented on April 22, Earth Day a $5,000 check to Commissioner Adrian Benepe, NYC/Parks & Recreation representing proceeds of 2002 John Muir Golf Tournament
  • Sponsored Team Scotland Lacrosse's appearance in Indoor Lacrosse Championship taking place in Ontario, Canada
  • Promoted BBC documentary on life of John Logie Baird in U.S.
  • Cooperating with Leica Gallery in a show of Scottish photographers.

2004

  • Presented the Foundation's annual Scottish Business Forum featuring The Rt. Hon. Lesley Hinds and the Rt. Hon. Liz Cameron, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Glasgow, respectively; Sir Alan Langlands, Principal of Dundee University; Patrick McCarthy PhD, Business Development Medicine, University of Edinburgh; Greig Sinclair, Enterprise Manager, Scottish Institute for Enterprise, University of Glasgow; and Greg McClelland, Vice President Scottish Development International on the topic "A Tradition of Innovation Flourishes: An Overview, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow"
  • Presented The Wallace Award to three generations of the Forbes family. Wallace Forbes, Moira Forbes and Christopher Forbes accepted the award on behalf of B.C. Forbes, Malcolm Forbes and himself and Steve Forbes, Robert Forbes, Timothy Forbes, and Moira Forbes Mumma, respectively
  • Arranged for representatives of the Cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow to visit City Hall to study New York City's new "311" system
  • Sponsored Master Chef Gerry Goldwyre's year long tour of the U.S. promoting Scotland in the "Tartan Mobile", a New York City Tartan wrapped Toyota Highlander
  • Hosted five Tartan Day 2005 planning meetings in Scotland bringing together Scottish organizations including The Scottish Executive and VisitScotland
  • Co-sponsored with the Illinois St. Andrew Society the Second Annual Scottish North American Leadership Conference
  • Provided evidence to and met with the Scottish Parliament External Affairs Committee regarding its External Affairs inquiry
  • Met with Paul Grice, Chief Executive, The Scottish Parliament, to discuss a gift to the Parliament from the Scottish Diaspora
  • Met with Jim Mather MSP and Dick Mugin, Operations Director, The Scotland Fund, to discuss a potential relationship with the ASF

2005

  • Met with Rupert Peters, General Manager, North America, VisitBritain and his associate, Simon Mills to discuss promotion of Scotland and Tartan Day 2005
  • Hosted an evening at Carnegie Hall featuring a concert by The Orchestra of St. Luke's of Scot James Macmillian's Symphony No. 2 under the baton of Donald Runnicles, another Scot
  • Met with Sharon Bamford, President, Scottish Enterprise Institute to discuss development of internships for Scottish students in New York City
  • Sponsored The Lord Lyon's illustrated talk entitled "the Work of the Court of the Lord Lyon in the 21st Century" at the British Consulate
  • Hosted at Scotland House™ a series of talks by Scotland's leading fiction writers including Ian Rankin, Scotland's foremost crime writer
  • Sponsor of The New York Biomedical Association's Annual Meeting to promote Scotland's biomedical and life science capabilities
  • Presented The Wallace Award to Mr. & Mrs. Donald L. Taffner, Sr. given in recognition of their long term support of the Arts in Scotland, particularly the Glasgow School of Art
  • Co-hosted with the British Memorial Garden Trust, "Scotland within the British Memorial Garden", a ceremony at which "bricks" of Caithness slate were presented to the City of New York and to the British Memorial Garden Trust for inclusion in the British Memorial Garden
  • Hosted 24 students from Dundee University at Scotland House™ for a panel discussion on the issues of immigration and assimilation in New York City
  • Co-sponsor of an event to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Robert Burns Statue in New York City
  • Co-sponsor with The Illinois St. Andrew Society of the Third Annual Scottish North American Leadership Conference
  • Raised $35,000 for the documentary film entitled "Hollywood Librarian, The Role of Librarians in Film and Society"

2006

  • Launched 50th Anniversary Appeal with "Case for Philanthropic Giving"
  • Presented 13th Annual Burns Night Dinner featuring Caledon
  • Sponsored British Memorial Garden Tartan Day "Scotland in the Garden" event
  • Sponsored 8th Annual New York City National Tartan Day Parade
  • Hosted Post-Parade Reception for members & visitors
  • Hosted 10th Annua, John Muir Charity Golf Tournament
  • Hosted 50th Anniversary Scottish Friends Reception at The Scottish Parliament and VIP Dinner
  • Co-sponsored Scottish North American Leadership Conference
  • Presented ASF's 50th Anniversary Gala and Wallace Award® Dinner with Wallace Award® presentation to Euan Baird, businessman and philanthropist.
  • Donated $12,000 to the "Mayor's Fund to advance New York City" from proceeds of The John Muir Charity Golf Tournament to fund summer internships for Bronx youth
  • Engaged DCTV to produce a DVD to record highlights of the Foundation's 50th Anniversary year.
  • Achieved Trade Mark status for the following American-Scottish Foundation® assets: American-Scottish Foundation®, its Coat of Arm's, Semper Scotia® and Wallace Award®. Trade mark has been applied for and is pending for Scotland House™"
  • Conducted a survey of visitors to the Scottish Village over Tartan week. The survey's revealing findings were presented at the Scottish North American Leadership Conference
  • Co-sponsored a variety of Tartan Day events including" "New Editions/Scotland; an exhibition of contemporary Artist prints from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee"; "The Scotland Conversations" put on by the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee; and VisitScotland's and The Fife Council's joint presentation of two Scottish Pines to Van Cortlandt Park
  • Introduced The Scottish Book Trust to the New York Public Library to facilitate "Tartan Bites", a series of a Tartan week events that showcased Scottish writing
  • Commissioned a study of the demographics of the American-Scottish community to be performed by California based Campbell Rinker, a specialist in performing studies for the not-for-profit industry. ASF's co-sponsors of the study are Whyte & Mackay, a Scotland based Whisky company; and The Illinois St. Andrew Society
  • Sponsored the making of the documentary film entitled 'The Hollywood Librarian: Librarians in Film and Society"
  • Launched an upgraded website to facilitate the introduction of new member services and an ecommerce capability.

2007

  • Met with VisitScotland, to plan for Tartan Day 2007
  • Met with Dovescot Studios to plan the Diaspora Gift
  • Met with the Scottish Museum Council to advise on Tartan Day programming
  • Met with Scottish photographers, Ken Patterson & Lindsay Robertson, to plan a tartan week exhibit of John Muir photographs at the Arsenal, headquarters of the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
  • Met with Lori Skiling Ramsay, an educational consultant under contract to the Lourdes Secondary School to investigate the potential relevance of the "Mothership" project to the New York School system
  • Meeting with Alan Downie to discuss potential for showing of High Definition film of 2006 Edinburgh Military Tattoo during Tartan Day
  • Appointed Auditors, Schall & Ashenfarb, to undertake an audit of the Foundation as part of ASF's long-term planning process
  • Attended meeting of The Scottish Coalition, Sarasota, Florida
  • Attended Foundation Center's "Grant Seekers Training Institute"
  • Consulted with Campbell Rinker to form Demographic Study questionnaire
  • Assisted Edinburgh Academy with its Alumni dinner arrangements
  • Sponsored BBC America Brit Bus Tour of 15 major U.S. cities to promote ASF
  • Sponsored Edinburgh Academy Pipe Band's appearance at the Arsenal, Central Park
  • Sponsored Reception for John Muir photographic Exhibit featuring Ken Patterson (color) and Lindsay Robertson (Black & White) photography of John Muir landscapes in Scotland and America, at the Arsenal, Central Park, in association with The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
  • Hosted focus group for screening of "The Hollywood Librarian" documentary film at Scotland House™
  • Met with Professor Stephen Young at Glasgow University to plan the University's undertaking of a "Case Study" of the Harris Tweed industry in furtherance of the Foundation's interest in that industry. The interest resulted from its gift to The Highland Fund in 1993 that facilitated The Highland Fund's purchase of the prototype width-width loom for the industry's weavers.
  • Met with the Glasgow/Edinburgh Coordinator to discuss Tartan Day 2008 programming potential for the two cities
  • Organized reception under patronage of The Lord Provost of Edinburgh to meet visiting American retailers of high fashion men's and ladies' wear
  • Hosted premiere of "The Hollywood Librarian: Librarians in Film & Society" at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center on the occasion of the American Library Association's Annual Conference
  • Participated in the Centennial celebration of The St. George's Branch Library, Staten Island, a library funded by Scot Andrew Carnegie
  • Hosted John Smeaton, Glasgow "baggage handler", who went to the assistance of a Glasgow police officer being assaulted by one of the terrorist that bombed the airport
  • Met with Loch Lohmond Golf Club to discuss ways in which to assist group develop US clientele
  • Attended retirement reception for Helen McQuade, personal assistant to former Edinburgh Lord Provost, Eric Milligan, a current ASF Honorary Sponsor
  • Attended Scotland Fund event in Toronto, Canada and met with Executive Director, Dick Mungin, to assess potential for joint projects
  • Initiated discussions to charter a ship to birth at Leith from which to attend "The Gathering", a "Homecoming Scotland 2009" event taking place in Edinburgh, July 25- 26, 2009
  • Co-sponsored 5th Annual Scottish North American Leadership Conference, Chicago, IL at which Campbell Rinker delivered preliminary findings of its demographic study
  • Sponsored "Five Lads & A Lassie, Art of Scotland" at The Lyme Art Association, Lyme, CT
  • Assisted American producer of "The Last Romantic", a film with a Scottish theme to secure support for the film
  • Attended Global Scot conference and participated in an advisory group engaged to assess Scottish companies with businesses wishing to do business in U.S.
  • Hosted showing of "The Hollywood Librarian" at Scotland House™
  • Agreed to assist The Overlook Press publisher of the "Highlanders: A History of The Highland Clans" by Fitzroy MacLean promote its launch of that book in March, 2008 and with its Scottish portfolio of writers. For further details keep an eye on the future Events Section
  • Hosted initial committee planning meeting for the 2008 John Muir Charity Golf Tournament
  • Co-sponsor of British organizations Fair at British Consulate
  • Distributed 50th Anniversary DVD in Pal and NTSC versions produced by DCTV
  • Provided bursary to New York City musician selected to appear in Celtic Connections 2008 in Glasgow