For many years I have been referred to as a social activist disguised as a banker. For this audience, I will happily abandon that disguise. But before I begin I would like to congratulate the Board on their selection of Lyndia Downie as the new President.

Tonight, even as we celebrate one institution's heroic effort to alleviate homelessness, let us take a moment to acknowledge a larger failure of our society. While the stock market scales ever-greater heights, and spending on second homes and other luxury goods reaches an unprecedented level, the incidence of homelessness has grown proportionally. We seem to be allocating resources along the fault lines of race, class and wealth. Why?

Why is it we accept homelessness and hunger as a necessary facet of our culture or worse yet, a structural component of a healthy economy? Especially in our time of plenty we need to ask ourselves, is this how we want it? Can we all agree a new model is needed - one in which no person in our country should be wanting for food, clothing and shelter? Can we all agree that this is the legacy we want to leave our children?

But we're here to celebrate what's been done - not to stand and curse the darkness.

When Wainwright Bank & Trust Company first provided financial assistance to the Inn in the late 80's, an uncommon partnership was born. That partnership continued through the 90's into a third decade of involvement. This is a partnership that begins with the volunteerism of our employees and transcends the normal term 'banking client' with nearly ten million dollars in project financing dedicated to feeding and sheltering and housing Boston's homeless population. In the world of banking where long-term relationships are measured in months, this partnership is a testament to a commitment to social justice that defines both institutions.

I have just discussed the breadth of this commitment, but to better understand the depth, perhaps I ought to tell you one person's story. Given that we are celebrating women this evening, it is fitting that I close with a twelve-year-old girl's visit to the Inn eight years ago.

As a product of privilege, the visit to the Women's Inn was an eye-opening experience for this 7th grader. Under Rich Ring's careful guidance, she negotiated her way through the facility with numerous interactions with guests of the Inn. Even to this day she remembers the beds and the dining area. Even as she touched the table and chairs she was touched by the experience and it left its mark. This started the young woman on a journey that began with numerous community service projects growing into a wider commitment to social justice issues and ultimately culminating in a focus on homelessness in New York City.

Today, this remarkable young woman of twenty is working for the Coalition for the Homeless, running a major university's homeless advocacy program and, in her spare time, protesting Mayor Guilliani's treatment of the homeless. This young woman is our daughter, and she joins her mother and me in celebration of women and thanking the Inn for all that you are and all that you do.

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