2024 Foundation Annual Report

This is the Annual Report of the Leslie Global Diaspora Foundation (LGDF)

It is presented as a blog posting to be displayed on the Foundation website to maintain our commitment to transparency and accountability our mission to serve Leslie descendants worldwide. The Foundation will not post its financials until the IRS publicly posts our filing.

2024 Annual Report of the Leslie Global Diaspora Foundation

Here are the noteworthy accomplishments of the LGDF:

• Formed an IRS approved 501c3 nonprofit organization to advance the research, preservation, and publication of Leslie information to engage Leslies worldwide.
• Formed a Board of Directors representing Scotland, Ireland and the United States.
• Published a Position Statement that differentiates the Foundation mission and purposes from the Leslie Society. The statement asserts that the Foundation is not a membership (dues) organization, but a project-driven, donation-funded organization.
• Created an interactive website, which provides a platform for interactive communication with Leslies.
• Created a LGDF online database for storing Leslie digital documents.
• Organized the first Scotland Leslie Heritage Tour for July 2025.
• Created relationships with researchers and societies in Ireland and Scotland that provide access to historical and genealogical information.
• Sponsored attendance to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games of William Leslie, the Younger of Wardhill.
• Sponsored attendance to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Game of Amy Tomlins, owner of Atom Tours, Elgin, Scotland.
• Made contact with members if the Leslie family in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe and the USA and have them as subscribers to the website.
• Published the second edition of the 48 page photo book the Legacy of the Leslies.
• Published three quarterly newsletters and sent them to website subscribers.
• Published 15 blog postings on the website.
• Researched and published a booklet on the Branches of the Leslie family.
• Funded and presented a commemorative bench to Leslie Castle in Scotland to honor the work of David and Leslie Leslie, former Baron and Baroness of Leslie, in the regeneration of the castle.
• Three LGDF Board of Directors represented the LGDF at the highland games in Aboyne, Scotland.
• Funded a records digitization project to capture and archive hundreds of documents stored at a Leslie estate. The project will commence in July 2025.
• Created a proposal and pledged partial funding for heritage and genealogical seminars for Grandfather Mountain Highland Games to bring Dr. Bruce Durie to the games.
• Planned and co-sponsor for a Burns Night Supper in central North Carolina to benefit the Helene recovery efforts for Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.