Interview Highlights

Loreen Arbus

Loreen Arbus is currently the President of The Loreen Arbus Foundation, The Goldenson-Arbus Foundation and Loreen Arbus Productions, Inc. Through these organizations and in her personal endeavors, Ms. Arbus is a tireless advocate for women and girls; a champion for one of the world’s largest minorities, people with disabilities; and passionate about encouraging equal opportunities in television, film and communications. A high-profile professional and pioneer in her field, Ms. Arbus is a sought-after speaker at national and international media conferences. The author of six non-fiction books, she has also written countless articles for many national publications, and was twice nominated for an Emmy® Award. She holds the trailblazing distinction of being the first woman to head programming for a U.S. network, a feat accomplished twice (both at Showtime and Cable Health Network/Lifetime). In addition to helping establish these two cornerstones of cable television, she launched Loreen Arbus Productions, Inc., an independent television production company with an emphasis on non-fiction programming. Having been a writer and producer, a consultant to various networks, and an executive in network television, cable, syndication and print media, Ms. Arbus has extensive experience in the entertainment industry. more

Loreen Arbus, PIFA Awards Honoree

A disability rights activist, philanthropist, producer, writer and author, Loreen Arbus holds the trailblazing distinction of being the first woman to head programming for a U.S. network, a feat accomplished twice (Showtime and Cable Health Network/Lifetime). She was one of four Award Honorees at the PIFA Awards Gala.

Notables at PIFA Awards Gala

On the Red Carpet at the PIFA Awards Gala

The PIFA Awards Gala is a special event to recognize and honor outstanding individuals who have dedicated their lives to giving back, and celebrate paying it forward and inspire others to take action. Held at The Yale Club NYC Grand Ballroom by eGirl Power, our 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and education, the PIFA Awards raises awareness and support for eGirl Power's mission and programs.

Dr. Allan Luks

Allan Luks, Fordham University Center for Nonprofit Leadership

While there are 19,000 nonprofit institutions in New York City, Allan Luks was named "the Nonprofit Leader of the Year" by Crain's New York Business Magazine. After graduation from Georgetown University Law School, Allan became a volunteer in the Peace Corps in Venezuela. In their program for lawyers, he established an ombudsmen's office for the city of Maracay. On his return to the U.S., Luks went on to become a community action lawyer in East Harlem for the Children’s Aid Society. This experience led him to become an Associate Director for a $2 billion inner-city investment fund, created by the life insurance industry—the largest such private fund. He later became an executive officer for the New York office of RAND, one of the nation's best-known think tanks. For more than two decades, Allan led major nonprofit institutions, receiving significant national and international recognition. He worked with the Alcoholism Council of New York, followed by The Institute for the Advancement of Health—focusing on how the mind affects the body, including the benefits experienced by helping others. In 1990, Allan became the Executive Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, the oldest and largest mentoring organization. Allan established the Center for Nonprofit Leadership at Fordham University, the first center sponsored by both a graduate school of business and graduate school of social service. The Center is the brainchild of Allan Luks, who also serves as its director. It is an intensive and comprehensive program that offers top-notch executive education for leaders and leaders-to-be of nonprofit groups. Allan has also initiated and led the campaigns for the successful adoption of three laws, one of which saves lives, another that saves jobs every day, and one that protects children.

Dr. Allan Luks, PIFA Award Honoree

Allan Luks is considered among the top experts on volunteerism, and how helping others can benefit one's emotions and physical health. For four decades he has directed well-known organizations dedicated to helping others. He initiated and led the passage of laws that have had a significant impact on society, and authored several books that garnered praise and recognition from readers and the media alike. He was one of four Award Honorees at the PIFA Awards Gala.

Dr. Stephen Post, Stony Brook University School of Medicine

Stephen G. Post, Ph.D. is a philosopher, public speaker, professor of preventive medicine, and best-selling author who has taught at the University of Chicago Medical School, Fordham University-Marymount, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (1988-2008), and Stony Brook University School of Medicine (2008-). He is an elected Fellow of the Hastings Center and a Senior Scholar of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University. Post is Founding Director (2008) of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at Stony Brook University School of Medicine (www.stonybrook.edu/bioethics) in the Department of Preventive Medicine. He is an elected member of both the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and the New York Academy of Medicine.

Dr. Stephen Post, PIFA Award Honoree

Stephen G. Post, Ph.D. is a public intellectual, speaker, professor of preventive medicine, and best-selling author who has taught at the numerous universities and received a Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition for Outstanding Achievement. He was one of four Award Honorees at the PIFA Awards Gala.

Rita Cosby, Emmy-winning TV Host

Emcee for the PIFA Awards Gala, Rita Cosby is one of the most recognized and respected broadcasters in America and has been quoted and profiled by hundreds of media outlets across the country and overseas. Born in Brooklyn, she is a renowned Emmy-winning TV host, veteran correspondent and multiple best selling author, who anchored highly rated primetime shows on Fox News Channel and MSNBC. She is currently a special correspondent for the top-rated CBS syndicated news magazine, Inside Edition, does frequent hosting and reporting for CNN/HLN, and hosts “The Rita Cosby Show” on the legendary WABC Radio, the most listened to talk station in America.

Dr. Malek Ben Salem, Director in Security R&D at Accenture Labs

Malek Ben Salem, PhD was a fellow in New America’s Cybersecurity Initiative. Ben Salem is a cybersecurity researcher based in Washington, D.C. She leads a security research team at Accenture Labs, where her research focuses on behavioral biometrics, IoT security, data protection, security analytics, Blockchain, and cloud and mobile security. She has been a co-principal investigator on several DARPA projects, including active authentication and the Integrated Cyber Analysis System (ICAS). Ben Salem’s research has been featured in DarkReading, NeoworkWorld, and the New York Times, among others. She currently helps clients from various industries (critical Infrastructure, resources, financial services, etc.) adopt innovative security technologies to achieve real cyber risk reduction and to proactively adhere to digital ethics principles in order to earn client’s digital trust—going beyond a compliance-driven security approach. She is also developing AI-based security offerings. Ben Salem is deeply skilled in security vision and leadership, c-suite collaboration, research and development, technology strategy, data science, and security innovation. She has authored several peer-reviewed publications and patents.

Lysa Myers, Security Researcher for ESET, Vice Chair of CompTIA’s IT Security Community Executive Council

Lysa Myers began her tenure in malware research labs in the weeks before the Melissa virus outbreak in 1999. She watched as the Internet grew from small, local bulletin board systems to the World Wide Web, and computer security incidents evolved from virtual urban myth to daily reality. As the landscape has changed, she’s seen how both cybersecurity hiring and education efforts have not quite kept pace, and created a talent gap that continues to widen. Since then, Myers has used her experiences to help spread awareness of what people can do to maintain an effective security culture. As a Security Researcher for ESET, Vice Chair of CompTIA’s IT Security Community Executive Council, and a frequent contributor to security magazines such as Dark Reading and CSOonline, she continues to advocate for improvements in the security industry.

Dr. Genevieve Shaker, IUPUI

Genevieve G. Shaker, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Development and External Affairs in the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts and Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies in the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). She is recognized as a leader among a new generation of scholars of philanthropy in higher education and noted as one of the few academicians who is also an active professional fundraiser.

Hilda Pacheco-Taylor, Corazo´n de Vida Foundation

Born in Ensenada, Baja Mexico, Hilda Pacheco-Taylor and her siblings grew up in an orphanage in Baja. After leaving the orphanage and making her way to the U.S., Hilda started her own family and became a successful executive. In 1993, after visiting the orphanage that she once called home, Hilda realized that the orphanage was in desperate need of funding. Setting out to find sponsors for the children, Corazo´n de Vida Foundation was created in 1994 and currently supports 14 orphanages and over 800 children in Baja.

George Lopez, Corazo´n de Vida Foundation

George directs programs at the Corazo´n de Vida Foundation, a US-based nonprofit organization supporting Baja orphanages to provide children in dire need the necessities of shelter, food, clothing, education, healthcare, hope, compassion and love.

eGirl Power Program Participants talk about their Multiple Intelligences

Interview with eGirl Power Leadership Workshop attendees, where girls are empowered to build confidence and self-esteem, gain self-awareness of personal strengths, identify and develop leadership skills.

eGirl Power Program Participants talk about Gender Inequality

Millennium High School

Interview with Green Team students of Millennium High School at community event.