Past Pegasus Wings Awards

Since 2015, our Wings Award recognizes outstanding individuals and programs that have made a significant difference for Marine Animal Rescue and Protection, Wildlife and Habitat Protection, and Animal Welfare.

Those we have honored in recent years include:

Dr. Jane Goodall, English primatologist and anthropologist, is considered to be the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees.

Dave Aronberg was elected State Attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit in No

Peter Knights, CEO of WildAid, an acknowledged leader in international conservation and protection of our most imperiled endangered species. Their campaigns have led to a 50-70% decline in China of shark fin consumption, 81% decline in imports, a ban of ivory sales and 70% decline in the price of ivory, and over 60% decline in the price of rhino horn in China and Vietnam.

Patrick McDonnell, Cartoonist of the MUTTS comic strip, who is a passionate and creative advocate for wildlife and habitat protection.

Don Baur, Senior Partner, Perkins, Cole LLP is former General Counsel of the Marine Mammal Commission and represents pro-bono such organizations as The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound and the Coalition to Establish Release Protocols for Captive Orcas.

Wendy Benchley is a renowned global voice for protecting sharks and safeguarding our seas. She established the Benchley Awards as a tribute to her late husband Peter Benchley and other champions of beleaguered marine species.

Sharon Young, Marine Issues Field Director, Humane Society of the United States, is a national authority on marine animal protection and conservation, and selfless volunteer rehabilitating wildlife on Cape Cod.

Other past honorees include Dr. Denise Herzig of The Wild Dolphin Project; Dr. Andrew Rowan, President and CEO and President of Wellbeing International; Diana Webster, President of Native America Humane Society; David Aronberg, Florida State Attorney, 15th District; Florida Representative Patrick Murphy, and Azzedine Downes, CEO of International Foundation for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

vember 2012 and re-elected without opposition in 2016 and 2020. He is a former Assistant Attorney General, White House Fellow and Florida Senator. He was elected to the Florida Senate in 2002 as its youngest member and served for eight years.

Aronberg received the Pegasus Wings Award in 2016 for establishing a legal precedent by personally trying and winning an important animal cruelty case in Palm Beach County in which the defendant was found guilty of letting his 2 year old pit bull, Bella, nearly starve to death.