Wild About Wildlife Kicks Off Its Third Season with Sold-Out Summer Luncheon

Author and Art Historian Deborah Pollack traced a century of wildlife art in Palm Beach at the floral-themed gathering

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, UNITED STATES, September 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Wild About Wildlife (WAW), a Palm Beach-based fundraising and awareness initiative benefiting the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s South Florida Urban Wildlife Refuge Project, welcomed a sold-out crowd to Table 26 Palm Beach on Wednesday, August 26, for its third annual Summer Luncheon, kicking off the 2026-2027 season. Florals set the tone throughout the afternoon, from botanical place cards to flowered journals gifted by Chair Dianne Bernstein, to a silent auction filled with fresh arrangements. Now in its third year, the luncheon has grown into one of the community’s most anticipated summer gatherings.

Guest speaker Deborah Pollack, Palm Beach art historian, gallery owner, and former television actress, presented material drawn from her archives, including her Florida Book Award-winning book, Florida Sculptors and Their Work: 1880–2020, tracing nearly a century of local landmarks depicting Florida’s native wildlife — from the Mizner Memorial Fountain and The Breakers’ Florentine Fountain to Geoffrey Smith’s river otter sculptures at the Palm Beach Zoo. Pollack tied this artistic legacy to the region’s present-day conservation efforts, noting that the wildlife long celebrated in Palm Beach’s public art is now the focus of active protection work close to home.

The luncheon also featured the presentation of philanthropist Rebecca Doane’s $20,000 sponsorship gift, naming Doane & Doane, PA presenting sponsor of WAW’s next event, the Nature Renaissance Luncheon featuring author Richard Louv on October 12.

Among the 50 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, who were formally introduced as WAW’s 2027 Conservation Award honorees, recognizing individuals advancing wildlife conservation in Palm Beach County. Both will be presented with their awards at WAW’s Awards Dinner & Gala at The Ben on February 5, 2027.

“We’re so grateful to Deborah for giving us such a rich look at Palm Beach’s history with wildlife art, and to Rebecca for stepping up in such a big way as our presenting sponsor for October,” said Nancy Marshall, co-founder of Wild About Wildlife. “We can’t wait to welcome Richard Louv next, and every dollar raised keeps that momentum going toward real conservation impact here in Palm Beach County.”

The luncheon raised funds to benefit the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s South Florida Urban Wildlife Refuge Project, which runs programs that connect youth to nature and foster environmental stewardship across Palm Beach County.

About Wild About Wildlife
Wild About Wildlife (WAW) is a Palm Beach–based fundraising and awareness initiative benefiting the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s South Florida Urban Wildlife Refuge Project. Through community events and philanthropic engagement, WAW brings together conservation leaders, civic stakeholders, and residents in support of the Refuge Association’s programs serving Palm Beach County and the greater South Florida region. Led by environmental advocates Nancy Marshall and Dianne Bernstein, WAW supports conservation education, habitat restoration, and access to nature by advancing awareness and funding for the Refuge Association’s South Florida programs, including Pocket Refuges, Conservation Ranger Camp, and Floating Wetlands—connecting students and families to local ecosystems while fostering environmental stewardship and long-term community resilience. To learn more, visit wildaboutwildlife.org.

Melissa Perlman
BlueIvy Communications
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