Speech at opening of exhibition at Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., November 29, 1999
Given by Ira A. Lipman, president of Guardsmark, Inc.
MR. VICE PRESIDENT, TIPPER, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
WE ARE ALL PROUD TO BE HERE FOR THE OPENING OF THIS IMPORTANT

EXHIBITION.
THE PHOTOGRAPHS ON DISPLAY HERE TESTIFY WITH POWER AND IMPACT TO A
PRESSING SOCIAL CONCERN. WE CAN READ ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND THINK
SOMEONE ELSE WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BUT WHEN WE SEE HOMELESSNESS
THROUGH THE EYES OF THESE ARTISTS, WE ARE COMPELLED TO PRAY, TO ACT, TO
HELP.

OUR COMPANY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST SECURITY SERVICES COMPANIES IN THE
WORLD. WE SEE THE COMMUNITY, AND INDEED THE WORLD, AS MORE THAN JUST A

PLACE OF BUSINESS; IT IS OUR HOME. THAT IS WHY WE ARE PLEASED TO JOIN THIS
EFFORT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE PLIGHT OF THE HOMELESS IN AMERICA AND
TO SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS.

EACH DAY, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR COMPANY CONFRONT SOCIETY’S

PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY CRIME. WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY RECENT REPORTS THAT
THE CRIME RATE IS FALLING.
WHAT’S THE REASON FOR THIS GOOD NEWS? ONE REASON IS THAT IN TODAY’S

ECONOMY PEOPLE HAVE JOBS. THEY’RE NOT ON THE STREETS. THEY’RE ACTIVE,
WORKING,GROWING, GAINING STATURE AND FULFILLMENT.
BUT THE RISING TIDE OF PROSPERITY HAS NOT LIFTED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF

HOMELESS PEOPLE. HUMAN BEINGS HAVE BASIC NEEDS. AMONG THEM ARE
SHELTER, THE CHANCE TO WORK, AND THE CLOSENESS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT IF YOU ARE HAPPY AT WORK AND HAPPY AT HOME, YOU
HAVE THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS. WITHOUT A JOB OR HOME, YOUR WORLD
DARKENS AND YOUR DREAMS DIE.