Initially organised by the Hungarian Scottish Society, before its chairman Zoltán Magyar founded the Robert Burns International Foundation to ensure even more good works could be done, the annual supper has raised and spent more than EUR 1 million since inception, both through direct cash donations and facilitation, all without overheads; management costs for the foundation are paid for directly by sponsors.

“Looking back over 15 years of Burns Suppers, it is no easy task to measure the difference our supporters have made to the sick and underprivileged children in Hungary,” says Jock MacKenzie, chairman of the RBIF. “The Foundation works without overheads as the ‘Hidden Army’ of volunteers and sponsors work to ensure that, despite today’s mix of very rich and very poor, money is raised and donations received to help us support carefully selected medical projects.”

So what will 2012 bring? “Each year we try to increase the number and value of these projects and we wish to make 2012 a record year,” says MacKenzie. “This year the Curatorium has approved five new appeals, in all about HUF 55 million, with different partners to include a British Embassy Paralympic Appeal, a reconstruction of surgical facilities at SOTE II with the Hungarian Business Leaders’ Forum, a joint appeal with the AmCham Foundation in Vas County, backing for the “Suits on Bikes” charity which continues to support the basic schooling of orphaned children in Transylvania, and a Foundation Cultural Appeal to create and erect a statue to the Hungarian-born St Margaret of Scotland,” the chairman explains.

The Sponsor of the Year has been chosen, and will be announced at the Burns Supper, having first been presented with the award, according to custom, by the RBIF’s Honorary President, Sir Alex Ferguson, prior to a Manchester United Football Club home game at Old Trafford sometime in late January.

All that is left is to book your seat for the 15th anniversary Budapest Burns Supper on January 28, 2012. Businesses are encouraged to take a table, with the added incentive that all donations are corporation tax deductible. The RBIF is also eligible to receive the 1% of tax Hungarian tax payers are able to gift (at no cost to themselves) to a charity of their choice, and businesses are asked to encourage their staff to nominate the foundation

To book places, offer corporate sponsorship or to learn more about the foundation and its work, contact RBIF General Secretary Steve Jones by clicking here or via mobile: +36 70 941 1913.

Alternatively, more information is available on the foundation website, www.rbif.org