Holyrood date for Carnegie centenary

A CELEBRATION of philanthropy will return to Scotland to coincide with the 100th anniversary of a trust set up in the name of Andrew Carnegie.

The Scot, who was the richest man in the world at the beginning of the 20th century, founded the Carnegie UK Trust in 1913 as part of a network of organisations dedicated to “improving the well-being of the masses”.

To mark the centenary, the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy will come to the Scottish Parliament in October next year.

The annual events are usually held in the US, except for one previous ceremony at Holyrood in 2005 when Kwik-Fit founder Sir Tom Farmer was recognised for his philanthropic work.

Tricia Marwick, Holyrood’s presiding officer, said: “Andrew Carnegie’s philanthropic efforts have motivated generations over the years. Working with the Carnegie UK Trust, we aim to capture and celebrate the spirit of these endeavours in the public programme of debates and discussions to run alongside the ceremony.”

Ms Marwick made the announcement after meeting Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, during a visit to the US.

Mr Gregorian said: “We look forward to our return to Scotland for the next Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy awards and we are especially pleased that the 2013 ceremony will coincide with the centennial of the Carnegie UK Trust, one of Andrew Carnegie’s most significant contributions to philanthropy.”

The announcement comes amid a row about Chancellor George Osborne’s new cap on tax relief for charitable donations.

The UK government argues the cap is necessary to prevent “abuse” of the system by wealthy individuals, but the move prompted an outcry from charitable organisations who fear that big donations will dry up.