VALLEY GROUP SALUTES STARS EVENT HONORS COMMUNITY STANDOUTS.

Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer

UNIVERSAL CITY - A veteran civic leader, a pioneering doctor and a program that mentors at-risk youths were honored Saturday night by the San Fernando Valley Economic Alliance at its seventh annual Valley of the Stars gala.

Dr. Richard Grossman, the namesake of the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital, and City Controller Laura Chick were recognized for their contributions to the community by 450 guests at Universal Studios. An award also went to Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams) for its success in helping high school students graduate and get into college.

``It's our honor to honor people who've done so much for the Valley,'' said David Fleming, the Economic Alliance chairman.

``Clearly, we've got two champions in Laura and Richard. Richard's an institution, and Laura's just done incredible things for the people of Los Angeles.''

``Project GRAD,'' Fleming went on, ``is really the future for so many kids.''

Grossman, who heads the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks, was the winner of the business award for his 50-year commitment to burn care and research.

A graduate of Emory University and the University of Tennessee Medical School, Grossman opened the burn center in Sherman Oaks in 1972 with two beds and a few nurses. Today, with 30 beds, the burn center is the largest private facility of its kind in the nation.

He also established the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect team and in 1985 founded the Children's Burn Foundation to provide financial resources to children in need.

Grossman said his award would be shared by those he works with.

``Everybody at Sherman Oaks works with purpose. Everybody works to make this a better Valley. We can't do it all the time - sometimes we lose - but for the most part we try, and it's a team effort.''

Chick, a former West San Fernando Valley councilwoman and the first woman elected to citywide office in Los Angeles, was honored in the leadership category.

``I don't look for the approval of general managers or lobbyists or special interests,'' she told the crowd. ``I work for you and I never forget that.''

Chick was elected to the City Council, representing the West San Fernando Valley's 3rd District, in 1993. Since her election as city controller in 2001, Chick has focused on identifying and halting wasteful government spending practices.

Project GRAD Los Angeles was recognized in the education category. ``This is an extraordinary gift,'' said Meryl Marshall-Daniels, a member of the group's board of directors. ``The work of Project GRAD is just to open their eyes and yours to the opportunities and partnerships and to make it happen.''

Founded in Houston in 1993 by Jim Ketelsen, a retired CEO of Tenneco Inc., the local program operates in 13 elementary, middle and high schools in the Northeast Valley. Its members work with the community to improve low-performing schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District and also provide merit scholarships to aspiring college students.

Officials attribute an increase in stronger reading skills in the Valley to Project GRAD, and recognized Cheryl Mabey, its first executive director, with helping build the company from five employees to more than 50.

To date, 330 Project GRAD Scholars now attend public and private colleges and universities around the nation.

Jason Kandel, [phone]

jason.kandel(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

The guests of honor, City Controller Laura Chick, second from right, and Dr. Richard Grossman, right, pose before the event with, from left, emcee Peter Marshall, Meryl Marshall-Daniels and David Fleming.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer