Charlie McConnell

When Scotland hosts the Carnegie Medals of Philanthropy ceremony this month it will be the first time the event has taken place outside the United States and it will be the largest international gathering around philanthropy ever to be held here in Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh is a fitting location for the ceremony, as Scotland is the birthplace of Scots-American philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, and I'm delighted that Sir Tom Farmer, the Edinburgh-born multi-millionaire and philanthropist, should be one of this year's recipients. As one of the new generation of Carnegies, he has given so much to his country of Scotland and others less fortunate overseas.

The Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy is the Nobel Prize in our field, in other words the most prestigious international award for philanthropists. Previous Medallists have included Microsoft's Chairman Bill Gates, philanthropist and entrepreneur Ted Turner, and George Soros.

An international selection committee, representative of the 22 Carnegie foundations worldwide, makes the selection on the basis of names submitted by organisations from around the world.

Recipients must share Carnegie's belief that redistributing wealth for the common good is as important as wealth creation. They are chosen as individuals and families with an extensive and impressive track record of philanthropy and as an inspiration to others.

As a part of the event, we are holding an international philanthropy symposium with 24 expert commentators including Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, and environmentalist Jonathon Porritt. Participants will be debating key challenges for philanthropy in the 21st century, with 400 invited guests from around the world.

Andrew Carnegie has had an enormous impact on philanthropy in the UK. He was one of the first of the capitalist philanthropists. He left in today's terms around $15 billion to his 22 foundations, four of which work in the UK where his legacy is perhaps best known for building the British Library Service and for Scottish Higher Education.

In his home town of Dunfermline, Fife the Trusts are the major benefactors of community projects, the library, the college of Further Education, public park, Concert Hall and swimming baths.

Scotland is a wonderful place to live and work. I sense a real feeling of civic renewal, creativity and enterprise here since devolution in 1999.

In my area we are also seeing a renewal of philanthropy in the mould of Carnegie, such as Sir Tom Farmer, and also of the Scots Diaspora giving back to their country. The economy is stronger than it has been for decades and there is a real 'can do' feeling around in the country.

I am one of the Diaspora, my family having left Scotland (and Ireland) for Canada in the 19th century. I came from Yorkshire in the north of England to live here as a student in the mid seventies, and excluding a brief spell working in London and abroad, have lived here ever since.

I like the pace of life in Scotland, its creative arts, and the wonderful countryside, especially now with the Land Reform legislation, we can access more of it!

I also relate strongly to the lack of deference here and the spirit of community. And the food has also greatly improved!