PARTY LINES : H.E.L.P. ON THE WAY.

Byline: Barbara De Witt 

It was at least a two-hankie affair that had grown men wiping their eyes, including co-chairman Ken Solomon, who said, ``I haven't cried this much since Bambi's mother died.''

But the members and friends of the Sherman Oaks-based Housing, Education, Language and Psychology Group - H.E.L.P. - are an emotional bunch of folks. They give so much of their love, money, time and talents - and reap so much from seeing joy in children's eyes.

That's the reason Howard Tenenbaum, a partner at Keyes Motors of Van Nuys, said he's involved, sharing his passion for the program as he and Keyes president Howard Keyes and partner Larry Abramson accepted the Corporate Philanthropy Award at H.E.L.P.'s 22nd annual Friends Forever luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Keyes Motors is big on giving back to its community. Over the past 40 years, the Keyes family has taken a swing at numerous philanthropic projects, but it hit a hole-in-one with the creation of the H.E.L.P. Fore Children Golf Classic, a tournament that raised $200,000 this year for abused, abandoned and disabled Valley children.

Real estate developer Jerry Monkarsh and his wife, Joy, who is president of Women and Philanthropy at UCLA and serves on the board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Cancer Society, also were honored. On their way up to the podium to receive the Humanitarian Award for their 30 years of service to H.E.L.P., they stopped several times to hug friends and many of the child performers and got chairman of the board Gary Carmona so choked up he could hardly make the presentation.

In accepting the award, Jerry recalled when the organization had 20 people on its staff and just a few thousand dollars in its budget and how it has grown to a 400-employee organization with a budget of $18 million.

The Humanitarian Award also was given to president of Disney/ABC Cable Networks Anne Sweeney and her husband, attorney Philip Miller, who were described by event co-chairwoman Marlee Matlin as people who have made this a better world for their devotion to children. Sweeney gave the acceptance speech (they flipped a coin, and she won), commenting that they realized there are learning differences in every family, including theirs, so it made perfect sense to join H.E.L.P.

Since children are the major focus of H.E.L.P., there were plenty of youngsters singing and dancing, with the help of show-biz stars such as Kenny G, Dyan Cannon, Louis Price, Sarah Taylor, Ilene Graff and Chaka Khan, as well as honorary chairwoman Maria Shriver, who left her hunky husband at home but joined the group on stage for the closing song, ``We Are Family.''

Back in the Valley at the Valley Industry and Commerce Association's 50th anniversary gala at the Sheraton Universal Hotel, numerous politicos and civic leaders gathered to celebrate how far they've come and to rally for the Valley's future in the next century.

VICA president Bonny Herman, who's been president since 1986, said the organization started as a small Valley organization dedicated to bringing in new businesses. Said Herman, ``Now we're nationally known from L.A. to Washington, D.C., on issues that we've taken positions on - from balancing the budget to social security reform on a federal level. In Sacramento, we're active on dozens of issues, from taxes to infrastructure and mass transit, but the thing I'm most proud of is how VICA has become the balanced voice of business for the San Fernando Valley and neighboring cities. We are considered one of the premier business organizations, along with Central City Association and the L.A. Chamber of Commerce.''

Chatting at the reception, City Councilwoman Laura Chick said, ``VICA has been one of the key engines that's taken the Valley from a sleepy bedroom community to one of the best places to live and work in the world.''

But it wasn't all politics. Helen Whistler of Van Nuys was there representing the San Fernando Valley Girl Scout Council, and she said she was there because VICA plays a key role in making businesses grow strong, much like Scouts make girls grow strong.

After all the schmoozing around the wine and cheese tables and introductions of numerous politicians, including possible mayoral candidate Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Horace Heidt Jr.'s orchestra performed, and Marianne Haver Hill sang ``America the Beautiful.''

Then a chicken and fish dinner was served, followed by strawberry tarts with white chocolate medallions designed with VICA's new logo.

Finally, the Robert E. Gibson Corporate Award for Excellence was presented to former Daily News publisher David Auger, who accepted on behalf of Time Warner Communications. When asked if this was a big deal, Auger actually blushed. ``It's the biggest award ever,'' he commented, flashing a big smile.

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8 Photos

Photo: (1) Recording artist Meredith Brooks, left, schmoozes with actor Benjamin Bratt, Fulfillment Fund founder Dr. Gary Gitnick and keynote speaker Sydney Poitier at the Fulfillment Fund's 13th annual Excellence in Education Awards luncheon at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

(2) Liza Minnelli, center, shares a moment with dinner underwriter Cynthia Gershman of the Gershman Family Foundation in Los Angeles and actor Joe Pesci at the Recording Artists and Athletes Against Drunk Driving (RADD) gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Berliner Studio

(3) Accepting the Corporate Philanthropy Award at the H.E.L.P. Group's Friends Forever luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel are Howard Keyes, left, Howard Tenenbaum and Larry Abramson of Keyes Motors in Van Nuys. The Valley auto dealership was honored for its commitment to local youth through its annual H.E.L.P. Fore Children Golf Classic tournament.

(4) Honorary chairwoman Maria Shriver, left, shares a moment with H.E.L.P. president and CEO Barbara Firestone at the Friends Forever luncheon.

(5) Honoree Anne Sweeney, president of Disney/ABC Cable Networks, left, shares a laugh with luncheon chairwoman Marlee Matlin at the H.E.L.P. luncheon.

Andy Holzman/Daily News

(6) Doing the party scene at VICA's 50th anniversary gala at the Sheraton Universal Hotel are guests Lisa Ann Rowe of Burbank and Mitchell Englander of Glendale.

(7) L.A. Harbor Commissioner Carol Rowen, left, chats with Recreation and Park Commission president Steven Soboroff and his daughter, Hannah, 10.

(8) VICA president Bonny Herman, right, gives a friendly welcome to David Freeman, general manager of the L.A. Department of Water and Power, left, and developer Bob Selleck at the celebration that honored Time Warner Communications with the Robert E. Gibson Award for Corporate Excellence.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News