MOVER AND SHAKER LOREEN ARBUS TO BE HONORED WITH THE AMERICAN SPIRIT AWARD IN LOS ANGELES APRIL 17 & THE GLORIA AWARD IN NEW YORK ON MAY 19 The Disability Rights Activist/Philanthropist & Producer will also present “The Loreen Arbus Focus on Disability Scholarship” at The 32nd Annual College Television Awards April 8 in Los Angeles & preside over The 10th Annual Women Who Care Luncheon in New York May 5
Disability Rights Activist/Philanthropist & Producer Loreen Arbus, the first woman in the U.S. to head Programming for a national television network, is at the center of four major upcoming events in New York and Los Angeles.
In the next two months, she will receive two of America’s most prestigious awards for her work as a Disability & Equal Rights Activist & leader, present two major annual scholarships she has funded in Los Angeles and oversee one of New York’s biggest charity events benefitting children, adults & families living with disabilities. We truly admire Loreen at Whom You Know and are honored and proud to call her a friend. Here she is as a Mover and Shaker:
Loreen is the daughter of Leonard H. Goldenson, Founder & Chairman of ABC and Isabelle Goldenson, whose work in the area of disability rights established the 5th largest Health Agency in America, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) and launched the very first national telethon.
The Loreen Arbus Focus on Disability Scholarship to be presented April 9 in Los Angeles
Never one to just receive, Loreen maintains her family’s legacy of helping others less fortunate by combining innovative ideas and media to increase not only visibility but opportunity for people with disabilities. On April 9, for the third consecutive year, Loreen offers two scholarships through a major alliance she established between The Academy of Television
and Science Foundation, The Alliance of Women in Media and The Loreen Arbus Foundation. Loreen takes great pride in presenting The Loreen Arbus Focus on Disability
Scholarships to the two winning student producers, which recognizes student filmmakers whose work sheds light on people with disabilities, helps emerging artists gain recognition,
and increases visibility for artists with disabilities. The two recipients will be recognized during The 32ndAcademy of Television Arts and Sciences College Awards (April 9).
Loreen Arbus to receive The American Spirit Award from the Caucus for Producers, Writers & Directors
On April 17th, she will receive The American Spirit Award from The Caucus for Producers, Writers, and Directors. Previous winners include Senator John Thune (R-SD),
Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA), and Debbie Allen. This year, Congresswoman Anna G. Ehsoo (D-CA), and Chapman University’s Dean Robert Bassett will also be honored.
Loreen is receiving The American Spirit Award for her philanthropic and professional contributions to the creative community. As an activist in disability and equal rights, she has established and funded many scholarships for women in science as well as filmmakers who may themselves have disabilities and focus their work on disabilities related issues and themes. She has also celebrated women as caregivers, volunteers and professionals.
The 10th Annual Women Who Care Luncheon benefitting United Cerebral Palsy of New York City
Next month, on May 5 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City, Loreen will once again take the reigns as the Founder and Chair of the The 10th Annual Women Who Care Luncheon, a star-studded New York tradition which celebrates the accomplishments of women as caregivers, volunteers, and professionals, which will be celebrating its diamond anniversary to benefit United Cerebral Palsy of New York City. Last year, over $500,000 was raised to help enhance the lives of children, adults and families living with disabilities.
Loreen Arbus to receive The Gloria Award from The Ms. Foundation for Women May 19 in New York
Deeply honored to have been asked by the trailblazing Gloria Steinem, Loreen will receive The Gloria Award at The 23rd Annual Gloria Awards: A Salute to Women of Vision on
May 19th at The Mandarin Oriental on behalf of the Ms. Foundation for Women, a foundation devoted to social justice. The Gloria Awards honor women across the country
whose commitment and achievements in the areas of social justice, reproductive freedom, and women’s leadership move our society closer to the inclusive and equitable democracy that the
Ms. Foundation seeks to create through its grant making initiatives and public education programs.
Motivated by a message of Inclusiveness
“Despite assumptions people have made all my life about me because I was born into extraordinary circumstances and grew up in a rarified world as the daughter of an extremely successful businessman, my life experience was always as an outsider,” says Loreen Arbus. “I was the only girl of my faith in a very elitist private school situated in a community that discriminated against my faith. As it was not a boarding school, and my commute was from another state, the long hours precluded any socialization after school or on the weekends. It was clear that the other girls’ families preferred it that way. This was further compounded because my older sister had severe disabilities and the underlying message I received was we would just as soon your family stay out of sight if she is with you. I both loved and was expected to take care of my sister, so that was completely unacceptable.
“Being an outsider forged my character, imbued me with resilience and strengthened my being,” she continues. “My early identification with those that are disenfranchised combined with my anger (I acted out and was a truant in school), ultimately was channeled into an intolerance of, and an unwillingness to accept the status quo. I have always believed it to be absolutely and utterly unforgiveable to prejudge and disrespect human beings simply because they are different. The absurdity of intolerance! This is what motivates me. This is what resonates to the core of my being. This is my mission – to bring an end to the intolerance that generates an “us versus them” environment, and create a society defined by inclusiveness.”
The Loreen Arbus Foundation supports a broad scope of interests including scientific and medical research, women and girls, minorities, people with disabilities; gender and racial equality in media; the arts; and global peace.
Loreen we congratulate you on all of this success, and we know you know how to celebrate! Click that link if you need a hint:
