HE may have given the Edinburgh public a body swerve due to security concerns, but Barack Obama helped raise £670,000 for Scottish charities during his visit to the capital.
The glamorous charity dinner addressed by former US President in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) late last month raised £570,000 for charities, and a further £100,000 went to the three charities nominated by comedian Kevin Bridges and singers Annie Lennox and Sharleen Spiteri in lieu of their performance fees.
After a round of golf in glorious sunshine at the world’s most famous course, the Old Course at St Andrews, Obama was whisked away in a high-security convoy to the EICC, where a large crowd of people waited outside.
With the visit coming just four days after the Manchester Arena bombing, those gathered were denied a glimpse of the former president due to security concerns, but the 1200 guests at the dinner were treated to a typically inspiring, articulate and humour-laden speech by Obama, who paid tribute to the victims in Manchester and said Scotland had “a lot to offer the world”.
Organised by the Hunter Foundation, the dinner's attendees included First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and author JK Rowling.
The guests included the elite of Scotland’s corporate and business world with tables costing £5000 for ten, but the Hunter Foundation also ensured that several secondary school pupils were able to attend as the winners of a national essay competition.
All profits from the night, including an auction, will be split between the Obama Foundation and charities taking part in the Kiltwalk campaign.
Those to benefit include Unicef, Maggie’s Centres, the Beatson Clinic, Clic Sargent and Chas.
More than £1 million has already been raised by Kiltwalks in Glasgow and Aberdeen, with two more planned for Edinburgh and Dundee.
Philanthropist Tom Hunter invited Obama to the event and was delighted with the total raised.
He said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for charities across Scotland to have a great day out at the Kiltwalk, raise much-needed funds and get at least a 40 per cent boost to their fundraising.
“Personally, I’d like to thank everyone who helped raise these amazing funds by supporting the Obama dinner event — it clearly shows the spirit of Scotland; we care always for those most in need in our society and believe fundamentally in opportunity for all.”
Speaking at the dinner, Obama vowed to return to experience “real” Scottish weather after playing golf in 26°C heat.
He said: “I promise you I will be back because, unless it is raining and blustery, I will not feel I have got the full Scottish experience.”
Obama was presented with a kilt to mark his visit but seems unlikely to wear it in public — he told the audience he would prefer a pair of Hunter’s tartan trousers.
Obama said: “Unfortunately, I have concluded my legs are too thin to pull it off, but those [tartan] trousers I have seen you wear, I think they look pretty good. So I might try some.”
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