Helen Whittier Woodward, the Center’s founder, was committed to making the world a better place for people and animals. In 1972, she and a group of friends envisioned a facility that would encompass comprehensive animal care and public education programs. Through her support and leadership, she guided the facility into one of the area’s most highly regarded animal and human service programs. A California native who maintained a home in Del Mar for 40 years, Helen Woodward dedicated her life to a number of charities, including those for animals, blind people, and the elderly.