Gretchen Wyler

Wyler began her crusade for animal rights in 1966 after witnessing poor conditions at a New York shelter.

In 1971, she joined a coalition in New York City that was created to lobby for reforms within the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). One year later, she was invited to sit on the ASPCA's Board of Directors, the first woman to serve on the board in the organization's 106-year history. In 1975, however, Wyler filed a lawsuit against her fellow board members, charging them with corporate waste and indifference to animal suffering; as a result, she was the first person ever to be dropped from the board.

In 1986 she created the Genesis Awards, which honors the media and entertainment industry for shining a spotlight on animal cruelty. The first Gretchen Wyler Award was bestowed on Paul McCartney, for a lifetime of activism for animals.

Founder and president of The Ark Trust, Inc., which presents the annual Genesis Awards, a star-studded gala honoring members of the major news and entertainment media who have helped raise public consciousness about the vast spectrum of animal issues. Since 1986, the annual event has become the nation's premier "consciousness-raiser" on animal issues.

In August of 1997, she announced her retirement from the stage at the end of her week-long run at the St. Louis Municipal Opera -- where she began her career in 1950 as a member of its corps de ballet -- starring as Dolly Levi in the classic musical "Hello Dolly" before sold-out audiences of 12,000 each night.