TV Pioneer Leads Way at Cancer Benefit

Loreen Arbus, the first woman to head national TV programming, is receiving the Women of Action Award from the Israel Cancer Research Fund.

Dorothy Chilkov, the fund’s chairwoman, said the annual award is given “to individuals who have made a difference through their achievements, leadership and dedication in both business and public service, bringing the very best quality of life to our community and beyond.”

Arbus “is a compassionate woman who is constantly sharing and supporting humanitarian causes,” Chilkov said.

“Although I’ve been honored as a pioneer in TV,” Arbus said, “it is so meaningful to be recognized as a woman of action by ICRF, which raises money to fund the No. 1 cancer researchers in the world.”

The Los Angeles woman, who headed programming for Showtime and Lifetime cable channels, is the daughter of Leonard Goldenson, who founded the ABC-TV network. She serves on several community boards, including the Producers Guild of America, the Harvard Medical School Advisory Committee for Neurobiology and United Cerebral Palsy.

California Sen. Barbara Boxer will be the keynote speaker at the awards luncheon today at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

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The Muscular Dystrophy Assn. raised $46,404 on Sunday at its fourth annual Muscle Team Walk at Griffith Park.

“We had over 700 walkers,” said spokeswoman Nicole Gardner. “Most of those came from our longtime supporter--Ralphs grocery stores--who had a walk team from every store in Southern California.”

Another walk, the first such MDA event in Orange County, will be held Sunday at Irvine Spectrum mall at 7:30 a.m. Information is available from (888) MDA-WALK or (714) 550-0161.

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Some working men and women are going to be hard at play during the Battle of the L.A. Heroes II.

L.A.’s police, firefighters and lifeguards, as well as area recruiters for the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army, will compete in a softball tournament Aug. 28 to benefit L.A. Shanti, a program for people with HIV, and T.H.E. Clinic , a low-cost medical and education facility.

“All of the ball players are helping us raise awareness around the needs of people living with HIV,” said Ildiko Tenyi, a Shanti spokesperson said.

The Fire Department, which took first place in the debut match last year, will try to hold on to its trophy at Poinsettia Park, West Hollywood, at 3 p.m. on Aug. 28. For more information, call Dina Bartello has ticket information at (323) 962-8197, Ext. 332.

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