Former Broadway headliner and animal activist, Gretchen Wyler always used “For the animals” as part of her signature in closing any correspondence.

Gretchen’s great love and formidable work for the animals survives her, as last-minute touches are made in preparation for the 23rd annual Genesis Awards to be held in Hollywood on March 28th, 2009.

This year Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi will be honored as joint recipients of the 2009 Wyler Award, named after this gentle Genesis Awards founder, Gretchen Wyler.

In 1986, the Genesis Awards event was launched by animal advocate and actress Gretchen Wyler, under the aegis of The Fund For Animals. Wyler came up with the idea because she strongly believed that rewarding members of the media encouraged them to spotlight more animal issues, thus increasing public awareness and compassion toward animals. The first annual event—a luncheon drawing only 140 attendees—quickly grew into a large gala in Beverly Hills, Calif., with more than 1,000 guests.

Genesis Awards are presented annually at a star-studded ceremony drawing representatives from the media, entertainment, social, business and humane communities. Known as the nation’s premier consciousness-raiser, the awards are bestowed by a host of celebrity presenters such as James Cromwell, Pierce Brosnan, Martin Sheen, Kelsey Grammer, Charlotte Ross, Alicia Silverstone, Bill Maher, Wendie Malick, David Hyde-Pierce, Christian Bale, Dennis Franz, Sidney Poitier, and Doris Roberts.

You can “Make your pet a Star!”™ in the PetPix Time Capsule to give your pet world-wide celebrity. When you do you also help to support the Genesis Awards as it is the primary pet charity for PR Sammi and his million-dollar team.