HONORING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS VOLUNTEER-AWARD FINALISTS NAMED.

Byline: LISA M. SODDERS Staff Writer

WOODLAND HILLS -- Reflecting ``the heart of the San Fernando Valley,'' five civic leaders were named Thursday as finalists for the Fernando Award for volunteerism.

Former California Supreme Court Justice Armand Arabian, along with Jill Banks Barad, Dorothy Jean Jauck, Ed Rose and Pauline Tallent were selected from a field of 14 nominees who have dedicated decades to community service. Barad, Jauck and Rose also were finalists last year.

``These awards recognize the unbelievable efforts of a number of people and what they have done for their communities and the San Fernando Valley,'' said Brad Rosenbeim, president of the Fernando Award Foundation.

``The heart of the San Fernando Valley is its volunteers.''

The announcement was made at a luncheon attended by more than 300 people at the Hilton Woodland Hills.

Fernando Award officials praised the nominees for their efforts to help poor and disenfranchised residents and for renewing people's faith in the goodness of mankind. Most of the nominees have worked for multiple charities, civic organizations or nonprofits over the years.

Rose, 68, of Mission Hills, is the co-founder of Meet Each Need with Dignity, the largest nonprofit social service agency in the northwest San Fernando Valley. Every Christmas, he distributes 1,000 holiday baskets to the poor.

``I really enjoy helping people and working with the poor,'' Rose said. ``I see a lot of pain in their eyes, and I want to do whatever I can to help them.''

Arabian, 71, of Tarzana, has been a Municipal and Superior Court judge in Van Nuys, an associate justice to the Court of Appeal and a member of the California Supreme Court. He also created the sexual assault victim counselor privilege now embodied in the California Evidence Code and adopted by 28 other states.

``Every day is an opportunity to inspire a young person who is capable of doing great things,'' Arabian said.

Barad, of Sherman Oaks, a five-time Fernando Award nominee, has done volunteer work for more than 30 years and is the founder and chairwoman of the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils. She also has been vice president of the board of The Executives, the support group for the Jewish Home for the Aging.

Barad said she volunteers ``because there are needs, and I see them and want to help make a difference.''

Jauck, 73, of West Hills, has volunteered for 40 years, working with the YMCA, the Girl Scouts and the Canoga/Owensmouth Historical Society and Museum. She also worked with the society and the Oviatt Library at California State University, Northridge, on an online project documenting the Valley's history.

``I like to work with people, and I like to think I can make things a little bit better,'' Jauck said. ``It's a very special thing to be able to volunteer. I wish more people would. They would enjoy it.''

Tallent, of Winnetka, a three-time Fernando Award nominee, has worked with the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program and helped establish the Winnetka Community Foundation Inc. She also was on the board of directors for Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment.

``It just comes naturally to me,'' Tallent said. ``I'm shocked (to be selected); there are so many other people who do so much.''

The five finalists will be honored at the Fernando Award Announcement Dinner on Nov. 10, when the winner will be announced. That winner will be feted with another dinner in his or her honor in February 2007.

Last year's winner was J. Richard Leyner. He's served as the volunteer leader of the Child Development Institute, on the advisory board of the San Fernando Valley Research Center and the Encino Chamber of Commerce, co-founded The Executives, and has volunteered with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and AIDS Project Los Angeles.

And to further encourage young people to take up volunteerism, the foundation awarded five high school seniors $1,000 college scholarships: Peter Ma, Chaminade High; Crystal Ng, Chatsworth High; Micelle Darios, Francis Polytechnic High; Daniel Olson, Notre Dame High; and Michael Vasser, West Valley Christian. Monroe High School also received a $2,000 scholarship.

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The Fernando Award finalists, from left, Armand Arabian, Pauline Tallent, Jill Banks Barad, Dorothy Jean Jauck and Ed Rose, are announced at the Hilton Woodland Hills hotel on Thursday.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer