Wild About Wildlife opens third season with sold-out luncheon

Wild About Wildlife drew a sold-out crowd to Table 26 Palm Beach on Aug. 26 for its third annual Summer Luncheon, raising funds for South Florida urban wildlife conservation and unveiling future event sponsors and honorees. The gathering highlighted Palm Beach's wildlife art history while teeing up the group's next luncheon and 2027 gala.

Why it matters: - Wild About Wildlife's luncheon supports the National Wildlife Refuge Association's South Florida Urban Wildlife Refuge Project, which runs youth and stewardship programs across Palm Beach County. - The event also helps build momentum for WAW's 2026-2027 season, including upcoming fundraising events tied to conservation work in South Florida. - The sold-out turnout signals growing community support for wildlife education, habitat restoration and public access to nature.

What happened: - Wild About Wildlife hosted its third annual Summer Luncheon on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Table 26 Palm Beach. - The Palm Beach-based fundraiser kicked off WAW's 2026-2027 season. - The luncheon drew a sold-out crowd of 50 guests. - The afternoon had a floral theme, with botanical place cards, flowered journals gifted by Chair Dianne Bernstein and a silent auction featuring fresh arrangements. - Deborah Pollack, a Palm Beach art historian, gallery owner and former television actress, served as guest speaker. - Pollack traced nearly a century of local wildlife art and public landmarks, linking that history to current conservation efforts.

The details: - Pollack drew from her archives, including her Florida Book Award-winning book, Florida Sculptors and Their Work: 1880–2020. - She highlighted Palm Beach landmarks that depict Florida's native wildlife, including the Mizner Memorial Fountain, The Breakers' Florentine Fountain and Geoffrey Smith's river otter sculptures at the Palm Beach Zoo. - Rebecca Doane presented a $20,000 sponsorship gift that named Doane & Doane, PA as presenting sponsor of WAW's next event. - WAW's next event is the Nature Renaissance Luncheon featuring author Richard Louv on Oct. 12. - Among the guests were WAW ambassadors, donors and supporters, including Dr. Denise Herzing, founder and research director of the Wild Dolphin Project, and Jennifer Diaz, vice president of education at The Everglades Foundation. - Herzing and Diaz were formally introduced as WAW's 2027 Conservation Award honorees. - WAW will present their awards at the Awards Dinner & Gala at The Ben on Feb. 5, 2027. - The luncheon raised funds for programs that connect youth to nature and foster environmental stewardship in Palm Beach County.

Between the lines: - The event paired cultural storytelling with conservation fundraising, using Palm Beach's art history to reinforce the idea that wildlife protection is part of the region's identity. - WAW is building a recurring calendar of events that ties donor recognition, public programming and awards into one fundraising cycle. - The announcement of the 2027 honorees and the next event sponsor suggests WAW is locking in support well ahead of its major 2027 gala.

What's next: - WAW's next luncheon, the Nature Renaissance Luncheon, is set for Oct. 12 and will feature Richard Louv. - WAW will honor Dr. Denise Herzing and Jennifer Diaz at its Awards Dinner & Gala at The Ben on Feb. 5, 2027. - WAW will continue supporting South Florida Urban Wildlife Refuge Project programs across Palm Beach County and the broader South Florida region. - More information is available at Wild About Wildlife.