FOUNDATION TO RECOGNIZE GIVER OF HOPE.

Byline: DIANA PEYTON Community Columnist

The Children's Burn Foundation in Sherman Oaks will hold a fund-raising dinner Feb. 29 to honor athlete Tommy Hawkins at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

``Tommy Hawkins has been chosen to receive the Giving New Hope Award, because he is a community leader, a philanthropist in his own right and is dedicated to serving children,'' said Jeanne Barry, the foundation's executive director.

Thirty percent of the patients treated at the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks are children who have suffered burns due to accidents, abuse or neglect. ``From the day they are discharged from the hospital until they reach adulthood, we take care of them,'' Barry said.

The foundation began with a donation by Dr. A. Richard Grossman, medical director of the Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital and Health Center.

Victims face a lifetime of obstacles, Barry said, and the foundation wants to help them.

``Our age-specific support groups have never been done in Los Angeles before. They are free to patients and facilitated by professionals who offer age-related activities to deal with specific issues,'' Barry said.

Families of victims also participate in free support groups.

Barry finds the work she does at the center full of personal reward, in spite of the pain she sees. ``If I can be responsive to people, meet their needs and make someone's life a little better, this is all worth it,'' she said.

``People come to our center from all over, Fresno to Orange County. If they can't afford to get here, we will send a taxi or arrange for transportation and accommodations, so the children can get the benefits we have to offer in our program. Everything we offer here is free,'' she said.

Daily News readers might be familiar with the story of Denis Nefedova, a 10-year-old Russian boy treated at the Grossman Burn Center. Many of his surgical expenses and the family's immediate needs were met by the foundation.

A 60-member volunteer team of committed fund-raisers, called the council, is responsible for organizing the ``Giving New Hope'' banquet.

``They focus all of their energy on raising funds for us. They are truly a dedicated group,'' Barry said.

The community is welcome to attend the banquet to help support programs that include the newly formed ``Stop Adolescent Firesetters with Education,'' S.A.F.E. and the ``Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Team.''

For reservations or to make a donation, call [phone].

The San Fernando Valley University Women will hold a light tea Tuesday with guest speaker and hat collector Rosa Keehn.

Hats and gloves are acceptable attire for the 1 p.m. luncheon at the Sherman Oaks Women's Club, and prizes for unique and other categories of hats will be awarded.

``I've been collecting hats all my life,'' said Keehn, who when asked her age, said she would rather keep it under her hat.

Keehn will discuss the history of hats.

``I wear the stupid ones and I put some of the pretty ones on the women who attend,'' she said. She has a collection of about 300.

The energetic hat enthusiast seems to have as many one-liners as she does chapeaus. ``Oh, you know, you gotta learn to enjoy life - and don't drop the stuff you like,'' she said.

Keehn works as a California history researcher at the Huntington Library. She has also written two novels, which she hopes to get published.

The San Fernando Valley University Women group has been meeting since 1945. When Publicity Chairwoman Ruth Sanders first became a member, the work world was limited for women.

``Originally, most of us were teachers. In the early days, that was the profession most women went into,'' she said.

Sanders left the group for a while, but has been a renewed member for 10 years. ``Things have changed. Now we have variety in our membership, artists and other professional women,'' she said.

The organization's 51st annual scholarship benefit, ``Millennium 2000,'' will be held March 11 at the Sportsmen's Lodge. The event includes a luncheon, fashion show and boutique.

Scholarship information is available through local school guidance counselors. The public is invited to both events.