i'm introducing janet and thank you very much for your work. >> (clapping.) >> appreciate. >> thank you so much i'll be very brief i'm wanting more tours what an exciting day honor and privilege to be here thanks to all the elected officials here and not here to have the vision to make that happen and bank of america we are so proud to be a partner ♪ project not only because of affordable housing in our commitment to affordable housing in san francisco is as mentioned but our doesn't the to the lgbt community we made a $38.7 million investment in this project and it is going to help provide safe it possible and quality housing for the low income seniors and it truly wonderful bonus is the residents will have the immediate access to great

services and benefits provided for openhouse but our dlvr investment is one of the ways the company we support our lgbt community our customers and our employees first we were one of the first banks to offer domestic partner benefits to provide benefits for medically treatment and especially proud of 100 percent rating from the human rights campaign for over a decade i invite you all to look at the this property it is a place in which our values will have dignity and sincere and pleased to be part of it thank you very much >> (clapping.) >> we saved the best for last now my honor to introduce richard, richard is a member of lgbt community and one of the residents at 55 laguna

when i asked how to be introduced he told me i was not allowed to say, of course, now all the things cart before the horse through my head i'll tell you richard welcomed me on my first day outside of building and helped the volunteers in addition to being worked out part of the community and he told me karen you remember everyday you're here i feel more alive than i've ever felt i come everyday that's what i need to start everyday i bring to the stage the amazing welcome come on buddy. >> (clapping.) >> to be steady on my feet this is an amazing day

i can't believe after 3 seven years in california and thirty years in san francisco that i'm standing here before you there was many reasons i came from skilled nursing, hospice, assisted living and now extinct living with integrity. >> (clapping.) >> i'm blessed to have my bus trust dog when i heard that 55 laguna was announced i joined openhouse immediately i watched the progress i read the articles, i heard the

complaints, i also prayed my experience in the application process was amazing i had a lot of support but the one factor was the electronic lottery it made me become number 11 and i was in. >> (clapping.) >> i received tremendous support from many people but openhouse helped me get through the trauma of having to move after 20 years they helped me with the moving expenses and gave me support

i'm proud to live in an lgbt senior center didn't think i would make that but i'm here. >> (clapping.) >> i absolutely love my living space i actually went to school here in the 80s this is really a remarkable place and i just from my heart i can't say thank you enough to open house and mercy housing to jay leno and i mean i'm sorry (laughter) why do i say that? i know >> scott wiener and the mayor

and to all of you had worked so hard to put this together thank you so much this is a very special day and a great day for san francisco >> (clapping.) >> thank you a well, i'm glad we know what mark will do do the late night show my first memory when you were championing the night club you'll be some more fitting go ahead. >> now i don't know what i was supposed to say i had to spend time on that i really did let me

say that if i forgot to thank you, thank you it's been a tremendous day we know that folks are cold and want to see this tremendous building we do a lot of building options at mercy housing this is one of the biggest crowds we've ever seen it speaks to the size of the community that is working to make that happen and more thing like this happen i hope you'll do more and more of this at openhouse and more and more of the advocacy. >> thank you to everyone for making this happen. >> (clapping.) >> i'm going to do one more thank you quickly openhouse as a tremendous relationship with san francisco's department of aging & adult services they are an amazing supporter of our outdoors i want to acknowledge tom nolan representing and part of board of supervisors in san mateo thank you, tom for being worked out here and dos for

having our backs you're amazing and thanks it is amazing to be the leader that stand up here he relish that but la jolla leaders scott welling born and many others thank you to the people i get to stand up here and give the speech we'll wrap up one the coast guard the door to the bob ross lgbt senior center at the 65 laguna please help yourselves to refrernlts let's go from there thanks guys