Cheryl Saban (/səˈbɑːn/; born April 30, 1951) is an American psychologist, author, television writer, and philanthropist. She is a former Senior Advisor to the United States Mission to the United Nations. She is the author of several children's books, a novel, self-help books, numerous gift books, and many teleplays.
Early life and education
Cheryl Saban was born as Cheryl Lyn Flor[1] on April 30, 1951, in San Diego, California.[2] Her father worked for the local telephone company.[3] Saban worked as a telephone solicitor, waitressed at a barbecue-pit restaurant, and worked summers as a lifeguard at a Navy training center.[3]
Saban started her career as a model in San Francisco, California in 1973 and Los Angeles in 1975.[3] She recorded her first album in 1978 under the name Flower.[3] In April 1979, Playboy included her in a nude pictorial titled “Disco Queens".[3]
Saban accepted a job as an assistant for Israeli-American Haim Saban, a millionaire who later became her husband, in 1986.[3] She wrote for television multiple times, including 19 episodes of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, produced by Saban. She is the author of four children's books, a thriller, and several self-help books.[citation needed]
Saban is the president of Saban Family Foundation.[2] She and her husband both donate through the foundation, which typically focuses on children, education and women's health. Through a $10 million donation, Saban established the Cheryl Saban Self-Worth Foundation for Women & Girls in 2009.[2] The foundation will provide micro-financing programs to women in the U.S. and in Israel.[3]
In 1968, Los Angeles Free Clinic opened at 115 North Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles.[9]
The Los Angeles Free Clinic is the longest continually running free clinic in the nation.[10]
In her years of financial difficulty, Cheryl Saban was a patient of the Los Angeles Free Clinic. Later, with her husband, they donated $10 million, and in 2008, it was renamed the Saban Free Clinic.[11][12] now Saban Community Clinic of Beverly Hills,[13] Rampart Village, Hollywood, Melrose, and Blessed Sacrament.[14]
Personal life
Saban has been married three times. She married her first husband, Ray Lenhart, at the age of 20.[4] They had two daughters, Tifanie Lenhart Chaney and actress Heidi Lenhart Stills, and divorced soon after.[4] She later married and divorced Bobby Ocean. He was a music producer, and struggled to provide for her children.[3]
Saban married her third husband, Egyptian-born Israeli-American billionaire Haim Saban in 1987.[15] They had two children through a surrogate (Saban had previously had a hysterectomy): son Ness (Hebrew for Miracle) and daughter Tanya. Ness was the eighth surrogate-born baby in the world and Tanya was the fortieth.[16] Although Cheryl is a Lutheran, she agreed to raise the children Jewish. The family always puts up a Christmas tree and celebrates Shabbat weekly. Saban told the rabbi who married them: "Think of me as a Christian who believes in Judaism.”[3] They reside in Beverly Hills, California.[2]
Bibliography
Saban, Cheryl (1993). Miracle Child: Genetic Mother, Surrogate Womb. Far Hills, New Jersey: New Horizon Press. ISBN9780882821221. OCLC28394531.
Saban, Cheryl (2005). Recipe For a Good Marriage: Wise Words and Quirky Advice for Happy, Long-lasting Relationships. New York: Ryland Peters & Small. ISBN9781841727868. OCLC57685783.
Saban, Cheryl (2013). Soul Sisters: The Special Relationship of Girlfriends. New York: Ryland Peters & Small. ISBN9781849753555. OCLC851655723.
Saban, Cheryl (2014). The Gift of Grandparenting: Sharing the Delights of Being a Grandparent: A Treasure Trove of Stories and Memories About People We Hold Most Dear. New York: Ryland Peters & Small. ISBN9781849755122. OCLC857880296.
Baird, Rebecca Therese (May 2016). Shelter From the Storm: The Los Angeles Free Clinic, 1967-1975(PDF). ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY. Retrieved October 22, 2021. A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Approved March 2016 by the Graduate Supervisory Committee: Matthew Garcia, Chair Matthew Delmont Ann Hibner Koblitz
