The Whitney is a museum that has a great rapport with younger artists and the community.

I remember being an art student and going to the Whitney in 1974 to see the exhibition of Jim Nutt, the Chicago imagist. It was then I transferred to school in Chicago, all because of that show.

I always liked Disney films. To this day I think 'Bambi' is great.

I went to art school... but I worked at the Museum of Modern Art. I worked in fundraising at the information membership desk. I ended up, over a period of time, doubling the amount of membership revenue that came in through people entering the museum, so people would ask me to come and work for them.

Rapport? You mean like, 'You run as fast as you can, and I'll throw it as far as I can'?

I'm glad you could join me tonight to celebrate the efforts of this community of artists and volunteers. I like to think we're all here because we believe in the value of art in our lives, and especially in our children's lives.