UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY
TV’s Greatest Honored
At Annual Awards Fete

Text and Photos by POLLY VAN RAALTE

OU could feel all the warmth throughout the event when Sir Howard Stringer and Barbara Walters were honored at the United Cerebral Palsy 45^th annual dinner at the New York Hilton. Henry Kissinger presented the Outstanding Achievement Award to Stringer, chairman and ceo of Sony Corporation of America.

Katharine Graham, chairman of the Washington Post Company, made the presentation of the Community Service Award to her dear friend Walters.

Meredith Vieira served as mistress of ceremonies. She is seen with Walters on TV’s The View.

I was quite moved by the video tribute to the late Leonard H. Goldenson, founder of ABC and co-founder of UCP.

As I listened to the speeches I couldn’t help thinking of dinners past that honored such as Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bill Clinton, John Glenn, John H. Kluge, Princess Diana, Rupert Murdoch, Colin L. Powell, Norman Schwarzkopf and Walter V. Shipley. What deserving individuals!

Now I was a listening to the praises of Sir Walter and Barbara, UCP supporters for many years.

ABC’s Roone Arledge told us about Barbara’s professionalism, and how she was able to interview so many personalities all over the world.

Barbara told how she enlisted UCP’s help for her sister who had special needs.

Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corporation, and Robert A. Iger, president and ceo of the Walt Disney Company, were the benefit chairmen.

They were joined by co-chairs Frank A. Bennack Jr., president/ceo of the Hearst Corporation; William B. Harrison Jr., president/ceo of Chase Manhattan; Leo Hausman, UCP chairman; Mel Karmazin, president/ceo of CBS; John W. Kluge, Metromedia chairman; Thomas S. Murphy, former chairman of ABC; Martin Pompadur,  president of News Corporation Europe; John R. Stafford, chairman, president and ceo of American Home Products, and Paul A. Volcker, chairman emeritus of the Federal Reserve System.