AF CARES The Ark Trust In The Beginning... The Ark Trust's Genesis Awards

Now that we've survived the turn of the millennium, we can put all of the talk of the apocalypse behind us. Instead, let's turn to Genesis - specifically, the Fourteenth Annual Genesis Awards, which recognize outstanding individuals in the major news and entertainment media who have spotlighted animal issues in their works with courage, creativity, and integrity.

By honoring people who use the media to further animal rights and welfare, The Ark Trust, the nonprofit organization that administers the Genesis Awards, hopes to further raise public consciousness of animal rights and animal welfare issues. The Ark Trust honors representatives of the major media and artistic community because they hold the key to raising awareness, influencing attitudes, and changing behavior with regard to animal-protection issues.

The Ark Trust is a positive, optimistic organization - they see a world that is awakening to the rights of animals. They feel that the best way to foster this process is to publicly acknowledge and affirm the pro-animal work of some of the most visible members of society. The Genesis Awards are named for the book in the Bible which tells the story of Noah and the Ark - the first documented "news report" of an animal rescue! Genesis is also the word for "beginning," as in the start of a new respect for the rights of all animals.

The first Genesis Awards were bestowed in 1986 by Gretchen Wyler, then under the aegis of Cleveland Amory's organization, The Fund for Animals. The ceremony was attended by 148 people and 14 individuals were honored, including Charles M. Schulz, the beloved cartoonist, and Abigail Van Buren, the ever-popular columnist. The following year, attendance doubled and the awards show has been growing in popularity and prestige ever since.

Cruelty Can't Stand The Spotlight

In 1991, Gretchen founded The Ark Trust, which took over the administration of the Genesis Awards from The Fund for Animals. Adhering to the motto, "Cruelty can't stand the spotlight," The Ark Trust emphasizes positive actions. They collect and evaluate media works from among all of the materials printed or released in the calendar year in order to determine the annual winners. The Genesis Awards Committee, the ultimate decision-maker, is composed of judges who have been "in the trenches" of the animal-rights movement, either as volunteers or professionals. Averaging 15 years of service to the humane community, their personal histories of work on behalf of animals and the issues that affect them make these individuals eminently qualified to serve as judges of nominated works.

The Ark Trust also takes direct action on animal-protection issues by working on Select Activist Projects. These projects are chosen based on their ability to help animals and generate publicity, while also influencing public opinion and creating change. Past projects include working with a national television newsmagazine to expose the horrors of the greyhound racing industry and creating the Red Alert Program, which helps animal shelters streamline adoption procedures. Red Alert has been "adopted" by the city and county shelters in Los Angeles and in Austin, Texas. It is available to large shelters nationally.

A Lifetime Of Stage Lefts And Animal Rights

The Genesis Awards and The Ark Trust were both created by Gretchen Wyler, a distinguished television actress and former Broadway star. Her enthusiasm, her background as a performer and her dedication to animal rights combine to make the Genesis Awards ceremony an entertaining celebration of good people doing good work. Wyler is no stranger to good work herself. Gretchen Wyler began her lifetime dedication to animal rights in 1966, when she visited a dog shelter in Warwick, NY. When she discovered the terrible condition of the facility, she didn't just bemoan the fact - she immediately vowed to "do something." Two years later, Wyler opened a new, greatly improved Warwick Animal Shelter! She managed the shelter for ten years while concurrently pursuing her acting career. During that time she also played an important part in reforming the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals (ASPCA).

When her role in the Broadway show "Sly Fox" led her to Los Angeles in 1978, she continued her animal advocacy on that coast. In 1979, she initiated work on a Resolution of Animal Rights - it was passed the same year, making California the first state in the nation to adopt such a resolution. Wyler also successfully led the fight to repeal "pound seizure" - the sale of shelter cats and dogs for medical research. Throughout her career, Wyler has served as a board member of more than 13 animal organizations. Since 1991, she has devoted her full energies to The Ark Trust, where she and her compatriots continue to fix the spotlight on the humane side of the media.

The Fourteenth Annual Genesis Awards were awarded on March 18, 2000. Look for the televised ceremony on Animal Planet in May. For more information visit the Ark Trust's website at www.arktrust.org