Genesis Awards

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The Genesis Awards are awarded annually to individuals in the major news and entertainment media for producing outstanding works which raise public awareness of animal issues. Presented by The Humane Society of the United States, the awards show takes place every March in California. The awards have honored such well-known personalities as Anderson Cooper, Peter Gabriel, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Jane Goodall, Michael Jackson, David E. Kelley, Sir Paul McCartney, Arthur Miller, Stephen Colbert, Oprah Winfrey, Prince, and Dave Mustaine as well as journalists, film and documentary writers and producers, print and broadcast news outlets in the United States.

Honorary awards include the Sid Caesar Award for television comedy, the Doris Day Award for music, the Brigitte Bardot International Award for non-American media, and the Gretchen Wyler Award for a celebrity using their fame to bring attention to animal issues.

Contents

[edit] Founding

The Genesis Awards were founded as an annual event in 1986 by the Broadway actress and animal advocate Gretchen Wyler, under the aegis of The Fund For Animals. Wyler believed that rewarding members of the media encouraged them to spotlight more animal issues, thus increasing public awareness and compassion toward animals. The first event, a luncheon, drew 140 attendees, and in subsequent years it grew into a large gala averaging 800 guests.

In 1991, Wyler founded The Ark Trust, Inc., to present the Genesis Awards. In 1990, it became a television special airing first on the Discovery Channel and then on Animal Planet. In August 2002, The Ark Trust joined with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), changing its name to the Hollywood office of The HSUS. Wyler, as Vice President of the Hollywood office of The HSUS, continued her role as Chair of the event and Executive Producer of the Genesis Awards television special until her retirement in 2006.

[edit] Winner selection

Beginning with the first ceremony in 1986, Genesis Awards entries have been submitted by members of the public as well as by media professionals. Categories span television, film, print, radio, music, and the arts. The Genesis Awards Committee - via a process of submission, nomination, candidate selection, debate, and secret ballot - makes the final decisions regarding the winners. The 13 committee members are selected based on their personal histories in working for animal causes. The members include people from various animal-protection organizations and diverse walks of life.

[edit] Award ceremony

Gretchen Wyler, founder of the Genesis awards, with The HSUS supporters at the 20th Annual Genesis Awards at the Beverly Hilton in March 2006

The Genesis Awards is the only event of its kind honoring the entertainment industry and news media for raising awareness of animal-protection issues.[citation needed] Celebrating the power of the news and entertainment media to shape and change societal attitudes for the good, Genesis Awards acknowledge outstanding works in TV, film, print and the arts.

Presented at a star-studded ceremony, attracting leaders from the entertainment, news, and humane communities, Genesis Awards have featured such celebrity presenters as James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Brooke Shields, Milton Berle, Christian Bale, Sidney Poitier, Carl Reiner, Daryl Hannah, Kristen Bell, Pierce Brosnan, James Cromwell, Ellen DeGeneres, Emily Deschanel, Melanie Griffith, Teri Hatcher, Bill Maher, Wendie Malick, Isabella Rossellini, Martin Sheen, Nicollette Sheridan, Alicia Silverstone, Betty White, Kelsey Grammer, and William Shatner. The Genesis Awards is taped for broadcast.

The awards ceremony has been held at both the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills and the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City. Through the years it has aired on the Discovery Channel, American Life Network, and its current home, Animal Planet.

Sponsors for the 25th Anniversary Genesis Awards included Warner Bros., One Car One Difference, Honda, Pet Plan, Market Development Group Incorporated, and more.

[edit] Past winners

[icon] This section requires expansion.

1986 Genesis Awards

1987 Genesis Awards

1988 Genesis Awards

1989 Genesis Awards

1990 Genesis Awards

1991 Genesis Awards

1992 Genesis Awards

1993 Genesis Awards

1994 Genesis Awards

1995 Genesis Awards

1996 Genesis Awards

1997 Genesis Awards

1998 Genesis Awards

1999 Genesis Awards

2000 Genesis Awards

2001 Genesis Awards Winners

2002 Genesis Awards

2003 Genesis Awards Winners

2004 Genesis Awards Winners

2005 Genesis Awards

2006 Genesis Awards

2007 Genesis Awards

2008 Genesis Awards

2009 Genesis Awards

2010 Genesis Awards

[edit] External links

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