Projects:

DRESSED TO KILT

Our annual Dressed to Kilt event not only serves as our primary fundraiser, but it also serves our core purpose: To educate people about modern Scotland.

Dressed to Kilt has become the centerpiece of Tartan Week in America. It generates more attention and publicity, both here in the US and internationally, than all other Tartan Day events combined. Indeed, Dressed to Kilt is now the highest profile Scottish event in the United States by quite some distance, having generated more than $15 million in media & press coverage for Scotland over the past several years. The event has developed from a simple kilt show into an event about all things Scottish. Everything from fabric, fashion, film, music, art, dance, and culture is showcased.

We believe that we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude and thanks to the young men and women on both sides of the Atlantic that have risked their lives to help and protect all of us. We are a totally apolitical organization, but we are quite outspoken when it comes to
acknowledging the debt that we owe to these courageous young men and women. Therefore funds from this year's event are being raised for scholarships in the medical field to help returning veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq that have medical training but want to take it to the next level to try and help others. We have already received our first significant donation to initiate this program and the donors have requested that the funds be made available to Scottish-Americans, native Scots and Scots-Canadians. We thank all of you who have come to our event for supporting our returning veterans.

Letter from Erskine Hospital Organization

SCHOLARSHIPS

Due in no small part to the success of Dressed to Kilt, Friends of Scotland has been able to fund scholarships that are designed to foster an interest in Scottish studies and culture. Currently, the Friends of Scotland is funding a student who is attending the Royal Scottish Academy.

We are also providing grants to schools to encourage the continued study and promotion of Scottish culture in America.  

EDUCATION

The Friends of Scotland has commissioned a book about the Scottish diaspora. The book will chronicle the why, where, and how of the development of Scottish social and fraternal organizations in North America over the past two centuries. The book will be released in early 2007. Two prominent Scots, Henry McLeish and Kenny MacAskill, are currently working on the book. Both men have written extensively about Scotland.

Henry McLeish is the former First Minister of Scotland. Henry’s career in public service spans over 30 years. He spent 14 years as MP for Fife Central, and as Minister for Devolution. He played a key role in creating the Scottish Parliament. In addition to his work in Scotland, he lectures at several universities in the United States.