TREEPEOPLE, FOUNDER GROW INTO ENVIRONMENTAL FORCE.

Byline: TRACY ZABORAC Community Columnist

Andy Lipkis started planting trees in smog- and fire-damaged areas when he was 15.

Who would have thought that it would lead to a powerful movement to turn Los Angeles into a functioning urban forest to help repair the city's environmental woes? He did.

In 1973 Lipkis founded TreePeople, an environmental organization that trains people to plant and maintain trees on urban streets.

In fact, Lipkis' tree people or ``citizen foresters'' - a term he coined - planted 1 million trees before the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Under Lipkis' direction, TreePeople has moved to the front of the rapidly growing forestry movement.

With his wife and colleague, Katie, he wrote ``The Simple Act of Planting a Tree - A Citizen Forester's Guide to Healing Your Neighborhood, Your City and Your World.''

That title may explain exactly what the Lipkises are aiming for. But there's more to TreePeople than planting trees. There have been disaster relief efforts after fires and floods.

In 1992, after the riots in Los Angeles, Lipkis helped create the Urban Greening Initiative, which brought the city $2.5 million in jobs programs and urban forestry and gardening projects.

You could consider Lipkis an influential and valued environmentalist. He has spoken before the United Nations and was consulted for the Smithsonian Institution's traveling Tropical Rain Forest exhibit.

He has won numerous awards from organizations including the California State Board of Forestry and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. And the Lipkises hold the American Forests' Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lipkis will be honored Feb. 9 by the Ballina Hills Chapter of the Women's American Organization for Educational Resources and Technological Training for 25 years of community service and for working on behalf of the environment.

The award will be presented at the Have A Heart Luncheon at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City.

The Greater San Fernando Chamber of Commerce honored three community builders at the inaugural Mission City Honors Dinner on Thursday at the Warner Center Marriott.

The recipients were Bill Allen of the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, William ``Blinky'' Rodriguez of Communities in Schools, and Mike Rueff of the Rueff Family Foundation.

``These are individuals whose dedication to our Valley is exemplary,'' said Francisco J. Uribe, chairman of the Mission City Honors Dinner. ``They realize that in order for our Valley to succeed in its economic development we must work together within every community to fulfill its fullest potential.''

The Mission City Honors are for people whose visions and actions build better communities.

Allen, president and CEO of the Economic Alliance, was honored for his work in bringing together the communities of Burbank, Glendale, Calabasas, Los Angeles and San Fernando.

Rodriguez, executive director of San Fernando Communities in Schools and founder of the Valley Unity Peace Treaty, was honored for his peace-building initiatives.

Rueff, civic leader and member of the board of directors of the Greater San Fernando Chamber of Commerce, was honored for his family's foundation, which was set up to generate and distribute funds for San Fernando youth programs and activities.

GTE of California received the Corporate Philanthropy Award for its investment of corporate resources to education, crime prevention and human services.

The Intel Science Talent Search has discovered three talented students right here in our neighborhood.

Joanne Chang of Van Nuys High School, Irene Lee of Harvard-Westlake School in Studio City and Dan Roy of Viewpoint School in Calabasas have been named semifinalists in the international science competition.

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PHOTO LIPKIS