Humanitas Bestows Awards for Excellence in TV Writing : Television: An ABC movie and two ABC series, ‘thirtysomething’ and ‘Wonder Years,’ top winners at annual event.

An ABC television movie about a custody battle over a mentally handicapped woman who wins the state lottery and episodes of two popular ABC series, the canceled “thirtysomething” and “The Wonder Years,” took cash awards Tuesday when the 17th annual Humanitas Prizes were bestowed for “humanizing achievement” in television writing.

The awards were presented during a luncheon at the Century Plaza. In all, $95,000 was handed out by the Pacific Palisades-based Human Family Educational and Cultural Institute, which recognizes TV writers who communicate values that enrich the viewing public. The annual endowment comes from a coalition of independent broadcast groups.

A special non-cash award went to filmmakers Geoffrey C. Ward, Ric Burns and Ken Burns for their acclaimed PBS series “The Civil War.” The Human Family Institute, whose judging board of directors includes several producers and directors, praised the program for its “extraordinary contribution to television” and the “stark and realistic treatment of the horror of war.”

In a new category this year for public television programs, writer Jon Robin Baitz received $25,000 for his “American Playhouse” drama “Three Hotels,” about a brash American businessman marketing baby formula in the Third World.

Other winners included:

* TV movie: $25,000 to John Axness and Jennifer Miller for the ABC movie “Lucky Day.”

* 60-minute series: $15,000 to Ann Lewis Hamilton for “Second Look,” an episode of ABC’s “thirtysomething.”

* 30-minute series: $10,000 to Bob Brush for “Goodbye,” an episode of ABC’s “Wonder Years.”

* Children’s live action series: $10,000 to Paul W. Cooper for “Abby, My Love,” a “CBS Schoolbreak Special.”

* Children’s animation series: $10,000 to Betty Birney for “Wish Upon a Fish,” an episode of NBC’s “Camp Candy.”

* Documentary: A non-cash award to Carol L. Fleisher for the syndicated “Over the Influence: Preventing Our Kids From Using Drugs and Alcohol.”