Philanthropic Initiatives of the Burns Society: Uniting Generations through a Shared Love for Robert Burns
In its pursuit of honoring the memory of Robert Burns, the Burns Society has dedicated itself to supporting various philanthropic endeavors, all aligned with its core mission of perpetuating Burns' legacy, promoting his works, celebrating his birth, cultivating Scottish culture, and fostering camaraderie among members. Some of the society's notable contributions include:
Financial support for The National Trust for Scotland's Robert Burns programs, enabling the continued appreciation of the poet's works in his homeland.
Annual scholarships in collaboration with various New York High Schools and Colleges, rewarding students for outstanding Burns-related scholarship essays.
Regular contributions to the St. Andrews Society of New York's scholarship program, supporting the education of future generations.
Generous donations of antique artifacts related to Robert Burns to the Burns Museum in Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland, enriching the museum's collection and visitor experience.
The Annual scholarship initiative began in 2007 with the establishment of the Robert Burns Literary Prize, which grants $1,000 annually to the students who best examine Burns' poetry, his influence on poetry and his time, or the poets he inspired.
Feel free to explore the past winning essays, linked below, and witness the ongoing success of these literary prizes. Interested parties are encouraged to submit proposals to the Chairman of the Scholarship Committee.
For further details on our philanthropic efforts or to inquire about the Scholarship program please write to us at the address below:
Burns Society of the City of New York
150 East 55th Street
New York, NY 10022
Scholarship Award Winners
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Andrew Fazio, John Bonativa, and Kaitlin Farran are the 2023 Robert Burns Society Literary Prize winners from Holy Cross High School in Flushing, New York.
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Britney DeFay is the winner of the 2022 Burns Society Literary Prize from Holy Cross High School.
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This year the Garden School had two winners of the 2022 Burns Society Literary Prize: Miya Wang and Nate Warren.
Read Miya’s essay “Love is Like a Red Rose” here
Read Nate’s essay “Fate in ‘To a Mouse’ by Robert Burns” here
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The winners of the 2021 Burns Society Literary Prize from Holy Cross High School are:
First Place: Thomas Graham (read his essay here)
Second Place: Steven Keenan (read his essay here)
Third Place: Luca Nitti (read her essay here)
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Lucas Morse is the winner of the 2021 Burns Society Literary Prize from Garden School
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Matthew Margini is one of two scholarship award recipients in 2010, the only recipient from NYU.
Read his essay “Dead Pets Society” here.
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Hanna Oldsman is one of two scholarship award recipients in 2010, the only recipient from Hunter College.
Read her essay “The savage and the tender” here.
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Elana Seplow was a scholarship award recipient in 2009 from Barnard College.
Read her essay “Strength and Weakness in Burns’ To A Mouse” here.
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Other Philanthropic Initiatives
Donation to restore the Burns Monument in Alloway, Ayrshire
The Burns Society of New York City provided £5,000 to the National Trust of Scotland, as part of a global appeal to restore the Burns Monument in Alloway, Ayrshire.
Maintenance of the Burn’s statue in Central Park, NYC
We are proud to support the enduring legacy of Robert Burns through the care and preservation of his statue at Literary Walk in Central Park. Our contributions ensure that this homage to Scotland's bard remains a well-maintained and inspiring fixture for all visitors to this verdant oasis in the heart of Manhattan.
Restoration of Isabella Begg’s (Burns’ sister) Longcase clock
Our dedication to preserving the cultural heritage linked to Robert Burns has led us to contribute £5,167 towards the appeal for the New Museum initiative. One of our notable projects included funding the meticulous restoration of the tall case clock that once graced the home of Burns' sister Isabella Burns Begg in Dumfries, the town where the poet spent his final days. This historic timepiece now occupies a place of honor in the library adjacent to the Burns Birthplace, symbolizing the timeless legacy of Burns himself.
Our members, David Close, Andrew Sexton, and Joel Barad, had the privilege of visiting the library and standing in the presence of this restored artifact, an experience that connects us more deeply to the life and times of Burns.
Furthering our commitment to the preservation of Burns' legacy, we proudly allocated an additional £5,000 towards the restoration of the iconic Burns Monument in Alloway, Ayrshire, ensuring that this testament to Scotland's national poet stands tall for future generations to admire and celebrate.
Donation of a historic saucer to the Burns Museum
In a momentous act of generosity in 1955, Ernest Tennant entrusted the Robert Burns Society with a prized heirloom—a delicate Lowestoft saucer. This isn't just any saucer; it was previously owned by his great-great-great grandfather, The Rev. Dr. William Dalrymple. Serving as the Minister in Ayr, Dr. Dalrymple holds a special place in the annals of history for christening none other than the revered Scottish bard, Robert Burns.
Fast forward to 2012, continuing the spirit of preservation and sharing of Burns-related artifacts, Society President Peter Lawrie made the commendable decision to donate the Lowestoft Saucer to the National Trust. This significant handover took place during a heartfelt ceremony at Burns’s Birthplace Cottage in Alloway, Ayrshire, with Nat Edwards of the National Trust gratefully receiving the cherished item. The saucer now resides there, serving as a poignant reminder of the interconnected histories of Robert Burns and the Dalrymple family.
