"I don't know anyone who deserves to be called humanitarian more than you Betty (DeLuicia). The bumps in the road, friends who know you well. You are one of the finest human beings.
Betty this award bears your name and it's thereby - of great value to me. You are one of a kind. Everyone here knows no superlatives can do you justice, suffice it to say - we love you.
Jim (Ahearn) will tell you when he called me a few months ago about this, I was stunned. You never think of of yourself as a humanitarian.
I'm here for the most part because I've been given an opportunity to have a career that puts me in the public eye - therefore giving me a chance to do some good along the way.
My thanks to my employer and boss the past 15 years - Arnold Kilnsky - and those before him who put their trust in me.
I'd like to thank a few other people if I may - then I can get on with my half-hour speech! My wife, Jean - daughter, Amanda. My Mom, Dad who's no longer with us. Some of my close friends are here as well - you know you you are - thanks. Colleagues like Janet and Rich and Kevin, Rebecca. former colleagues like Laura, Maggie, Warren. They all helped me do my job, allowing me to do other things like this fashion show, the telethon, junior achievement and so forth.
Why are we here?
We're here to help. We're here to have fun.
We're here to help.
We're here to have fun.
I call it enlightened self-interest
That's what works the best.
Follow me on this for just a moment. The first part of that - enlightened - we're here to help.
Benevolence by itself runs out quickly. It's not even possible unless you first earn then money to give away - unless you first make the clothes that you can show off.
Benevolence is a state of mind, altruistic - it's business, until you're capable of actually helping. Good intentions alone are good for nothing. Good deeds' cost time and money. You need to invest energy in good deeds.....and you first have to have those things to share, before you can help anyone.
We're here to help - but first we all have to be capable of helping.
The second part - self interest. We're here to have fun. Just having fun runs out quickly. Drugs and rock 'n roll have short lifespans. Just having fun is destructive. Self interest alone is pathetic, lonely, not satisfying. Self interest alone - making money - gaining power - using people wears out. The bottom line result of simply self interest is emptiness.
But together the two ends of that spectrum make for a dynamic duo.
Enlightened self interest is a company whose employees are rewarded well because the way the company excels and makes more money.
Enlightened self interest us RAMS. offering a chance for athletes to have fun, to compete for a fee thereby helping clients.
Enlightened self interest is a politician who does what he knows to be the vest for his constituents and is thereby re-elected .
Enlightened self interest is parents doing what's right in brining up children, knowing they'll be self sufficient and get out. .
Enlightened self interest: pouring your heart out at a telethon , knowing that the life you eventually save could be that of your grandchild.
Enlightened self interest is studying for decades to have a career in medicine, make lots of money but also find a new therapy for M.S.
Enlightened self interest is doing lots of things to help others knowing deep down, how good it makes you feel.
There's nothing wrong with being selfish by improving the lives of others. There's nothing wrong, in fact, there's everything right with having fun, having a great lunch, seeing wonderful fashions - as you have for so many years - and creating hope, health, harmony in the process.
I will cherish this moment forever. Thank you.
Copyright Gabe Dalmath. All Rights Reserved.
