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A Celebration of Scotland's Treasures

Save the date for an evening of Scottish music, dining, and dancing

Thursday, April 11, 2024

The Metropolitan Club

New York City

The evening will include live and silent auctions with one-of-a-kind prizes, a whisky tasting, a meal among friends in The Metropolitan Club’s spectacular dining room, and Scottish cèilidh to end the festivities.

Judy Murray OBE

2023 Great Scot Honoree

Judy Murray OBE is a former Scottish international tennis player with 64 national titles to her name. She became Scottish National Coach in 1995, the same year that she became the first woman to pass the Lawn Tennis Association’s Performance Coach Award. She initiated the Scottish Development School program which ultimately produced four Davis Cup players and one Fed Cup player, including her Grand Slam winning sons, Jamie and Andy. In 2011, Judy was appointed Captain of the British Federation Cup Team and used this role to grow the profile, numbers and standard of female players, coaches and sports scientists across Great Britain.

Judy Murray delivers her speech at A Celebration of Scotland's Treasures. Image courtesy of Hechler Photographers

Judy has developed several tennis initiatives including Miss-Hits, a starter program for girls aged 5 to 8, Tennis on the Road, which takes tennis into remote and deprived parts of Scotland, and She Rallies, a campaign with the Lawn Tennis Association, to encourage more women into the tennis workforce across the UK. With the Judy Murray Foundation, she provided equipment and fun, doable workshops for teachers, students, parents, volunteers and club members to ensure affordable, accessible tennis activity in some of the most deprived areas of Scotland. She also developed a comprehensive online resource for Education Scotland to show teachers and sports leaders how to deliver quality sessions for big numbers in school spaces.

Judy is regarded as one of the world’s leading experts in physical skill development in children and has been awarded 6 honorary degrees from universities across Scotland. She has written a memoir of her life Knowing the Score and her debut fiction novel The Wild Card will be published in June. She has appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and is the presenter of ITV series Driving Force which showcases the lives of Britain’s most successful sportswomen.

Her final project is the building of The Murray Tennis and Golf Centre near Dunblane which will provide Scotland with a facility of national significance from which to showcase and grow both sports. It will be operated by the Murray Play Foundation and run as a not-for-profit business. It will be a family-focused, pay-to-play community venue with indoor and outdoor tennis, pickleball, padel, gym, exercise studios, cafeteria, soft play and a country park with woodland walks and fit trails. Phase 2 includes a 6-hole starter golf course, driving range, short game practice areas and a Scottish themed mini golf course.

Guests enjoy A Celebration of Scotland's Treasures. Image courtesy of Hechler Photographers.

On April 20, we gathered in New York City to honor Judy Murray as the Great Scot. A memorable evening filled with laughs, dancing, whiskey, and haggis, our gala raised over $350,000 to support the work of Scotland’s largest conservation charity.

Featuring a live and silent auction, our donors had the opportunity to win luxury textiles, one-of-a-kind experiences, and unique items from a variety of Scottish vendors.

To learn more about 2023’s A Celebration of Scotland’s Treasures, visit the link below.

Learn More

About the Great Scot Award

The Great Scot Award is presented annually to a Scot or American who has contributed to the countries’ shared heritage. The recipient is selected by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and the award presentation is the highlight of the annual gala, A Celebration of Scotland’s Treasures. Honorees include Billy Connolly (pictured here with presenter Alan Cumming, also a Great Scot Award honoree), Denise Mina, Ken Burns, Phyllis Logan, and Alexander McCall Smith. Below you will find a full list of past Honorees.

Great Scot Award Honorees

2022

Diana Gabaldon

Author of the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling Outlander novels

2021

Brian Denis Cox CBE

Scottish actor working in film, television, and theatre.

2020

Denise Mina

Scottish crime writer and playwright.

  • Honorees 2008-2019

    2019

    Andy Scott

    Internationally recognized artist and sculptor of The Kelpies, the worlds largest equine sculptures.

    2018

    Mark Beaumont

    World record-breaking long distance cyclist.

    2017

    Ken Burns

    Documentary filmmaker and kinsman of Scottish poet Robert Burns.

    2016

    Phyllis Logan

    Actor, best known for her roles as Mrs. Hughes on Downton Abbey and Lady Jane Felsham on Lovejoy.

    2015

     Sir Billy Connolly

    Stand up comedian, actor, musician, TV presenter, and artist

    2014

    Richard Scott

    10th Duke of Buccleuch and the 12th Duke of Queensbury

    2013

    Ian Gow

    Chief Curator, National Trust for Scotland

    2012

    The International Alliance for the Advancement of Scottish Roots Music

    2011

    Mrs. Thomas J. Hubbard

    Philanthropist

    2010

    Christopher Forbes

    Vice chairman of Forbes Inc., noted collector and connoisseur

    2009

    Alan Cumming

    Award-Winning Actor, Singer, Writer, Producer, Director, and Author

    2008

    Alexander McCall Smith

    Internationally Acclaimed Author

To learn more about last year’s event and 2022 Great Scot Diana Gabaldon, visit our press release and blog post from our 2022 celebration. 

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