Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Barrie and Michael
Grobstein, who will be honored this year with the Circle of Life Award, given annually for service on behalf of the Jewish Home for the Aging, the largest continuing residential care facility in Southern California. Barrie and Michael are truly worthy of this distinguished award.
Through their involvement with The Executives, a group of business
leaders from the San Fernando Valley formed to support this critically-
needed facility, the Grobsteins have been instrumental in ensuring that
the Jewish Home for the Aging has the financial support it needs to
continue to provide seniors with the highest level of care. With the
help of Barrie and Michael, The Executives has become one of the Los
Angeles area's most distinguished and successful charitable
organizations.
Michael has served as a founding member, executive committee member, and as president for three years of The Executives and its predecessor, The Valley Jewish Business Leaders Association.
The Jewish Home for the Aging is a truly unique facility. The average
age of its 750 residents is 90 years. Each of its two campuses has a
full-service medical clinic with state-of-the-art equipment and is
staffed by on-site physicians, nurses, and medical and rehabilitation
therapists. The Home's medical department is affiliated with UCLA's
Division of Geriatric Medicine, and has developed a national reputation
for its research in aging, long-term care, and Alzheimer's disease.
Barrie and Michael have been instrumental in making all this
possible.
In addition to his work on behalf of the Jewish Home for the Aging, with Barrie's support Michael has served on the board of many other charitable organizations, including the Institute for Arteriosclerosis Research, Temple Valley Beth Shalom, International College, Ryokan College, the Pacific Association of Schools and Colleges, two organizations supporting the premier cancer research charity City of Hope, the West Coast Father's Day Council for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Sherman Oaks Hospital, and many others. Barrie also has been active in education on the danger of cults, serving as a Speaker for the Jewish's Federation's Anti-Cult Movement. She is also a long- term member of Valley Beth Shalom's Sisterhood.
The Grobstein's efforts on behalf of these charities and community
groups have been paralleled by success in the business world. With
Barrie's help, Michael's accounting practice grew from a one room
office in 1967 to almost two floors in the same office building today
and in one of the largest regional CPA firms in Los Angeles.
Mr. Speaker, Michael and Barrie Grobstein, who this year celebrated
their 36th wedding anniversary, are two of the San Fernando Valley's
finest community leaders. I urge you and all my colleagues to join me
today in honor of their achievements. They have truly served their
community with distinction.