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I am glad to have this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to those unselfish people who have so generously contributed their time, their talent and their money for the success of the efforts of the Greater New York committee.

To the ladies who have so brilliantly conceived and carried out the magnificent program we are all enjoying this evening, I am deeply indebted.

I cannot overvalue the splendid news, photographic and editorial support of the Greater New York daily, Sunday, and weekly newspapers, notably the work done by the New York Daily and Sunday Mirror, which has so largely contributed to the success of the many other celebrations being held throughout the city tonight. I am not unmindful of the many projects they have conducted leading up to this memorable evening. I thank those who have assisted the newspapers.

I wish especially to thank the advertisers in the President's Birthday Magazine, whose advertising revenue made this fine publication possible. I appreciate fully the contribution made by the artists, writers, and musicians who have so generously given their services to the Cause. Great thanks must be given to radio broadcasting stations and announcers, as well as advertisers who have given time in their programs, and radio stars and columnists for their priceless assistance.

The part that appeals to me most about the Birthday Celebrations is that they are celebrations, indeed. The gay happy spirit that pervades the millions of dancers throughout the nation is that same spirit as exemplified by our President, that is so absolutely essential to recovery from infantile paralysis. One of the more joyful of the courageous convalescents at Warm Springs called the treatment "playing polio." They make the daily swims in the warm pools a real game. So in "playing polio" these happy, dauntless sufferers are playing the game of getting well. So we who are dancing here tonight and the millions like us all over the country, who are participating in the world's largest party, should let our hearts be lifted up by the merry spirit of our less fortunate friends. Let us all be gay, for we know our gayety is doing good.

For the generous contribution of talent from the stage, screen, and radio world, tonight's party should be one long remembered. Were these great artists who have given so freely of their services paid their standard fee instead of performing without charge, the price of the tickets to the Waldorf Ball would of necessity be so costly that only a very few could afford to attend. I hope that you will join with me in giving them double applause: first for their priceless addition to a great evening, second for their unstinted support of a great cause.

As Treasurer and a Trustee of Georgia Warm Springs Foundation since its inception, I understand the noble sprit that has motivated all who have helped in this work. They have been inspired by the realization of what can be done with the proceeds of these Celebrations for those afflicted with infantile paralysis. Georgia Warm Springs Foundation has not only demonstrated, but accentuated the need for public support of this great Cause. The work which we are doing at Warm Springs has far more significance than in its application to the necessarily limited number of patients we are able to treat there at any one time. It is a laboratory in which work constantly goes on to benefit those who suffer from the after effects of this disease in every state and city in the United States. The great hope is that what is learned there may be of value to all afflicted. The result of that work is freely given to those organizations and institutions throughout the country that are engaged in infantile paralysis relief.

Two years ago it was believed that the greatest good could be done for the greatest number if a part of the money derived from these Birthday Celebrations in honor of our President were allowed to remain in the locality where raised. So, this year again, seventy per cent of the money remains in the local community to relieve sufferers at home and thirty per cent goes to assist the work at Warm Springs.

I know that there is no work closer to the heart of our President than that of helping those who have been unfortunate enough to have been attacked by this dreadful disease. No greater tribute can be paid to him than these Celebrations in honor of his birthday. No greater good in the material sense has yet been effected in honor of any of our Presidents.

All of this could not have been accomplished without the unselfishness of you who contributed to its success by participating in these Birthday Parties, and those who have assisted so generously in bringing them about. You have given aid and assistance to a worthy Cause whose very slogan must be "Courage." Again I thank you for all you have so generously done in the name of President Roosevelt and those grateful sufferers from infantile paralysis.