Wild About Wildlife Awards & Gala Dinner

Wild About Wildlife’s premier annual fundraising celebration brings together Palm Beach’s conservation-minded community for an evening of philanthropy, storytelling, and impact. Benefiting the National Wildlife Refuge Association and its South Florida Urban Wildlife Refuge Project, the event raises critical support for programs that connect youth and families to nature, restore native habitats, and strengthen South Florida’s environmental resilience.

This year’s dinner will take place on Friday, February 6, 2026, at The Ben, Autograph Collection in West Palm Beach. Guests will enjoy an elegant evening featuring a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, dinner, and a program honoring regional conservation leaders whose work is shaping the future of wildlife and public lands in our community.

The event is chaired by Dianne Bernstein, with Frances Fisher as Honorary Chair, presenting awards to two distinguished honorees:

– Margo McKnight, President & CEO of the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, as the 2026 Conservationist of the Year
– Amy Kight, CEO of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, as the 2026 Next Generation Environmental Hero

Throughout the evening, attendees will learn more about the National Wildlife Refuge Association, the only nonprofit solely dedicated to protecting, promoting, and enhancing America’s National Wildlife Refuge System. Locally, funds raised support the South Florida Urban Wildlife Refuge Project, which delivers hands-on environmental education, youth leadership opportunities, native planting initiatives, and innovative water-quality solutions—such as pocket refuges and floating wetlands—across Palm Beach County and South Florida.

Seating at the Awards Dinner is included with benefactor commitments, which can be made at https://www.refugeassociation.org/2026-wild-about-wildlife or by emailing wildaboutwildlife@refugeassociation.org