Event honors Amy Kight and Margo McKnight for leadership in wildlife conservation and environmental education
WEST PALM BEACH, FL, UNITED STATES, February 19, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Wild About Wildlife (WAW), the Palm Beach–based philanthropic initiative benefiting the National Wildlife Refuge Association, hosted its annual Awards Gala February 6 at The Ben in downtown West Palm Beach.
The event brought together more than 130 conservation advocates, community leaders, and philanthropic supporters, generating $329K in gross proceeds. Funds raised will support programs that connect Palm Beach County students with meaningful, hands-on experiences in South Florida’s natural environments.
“This year’s gathering demonstrated the extraordinary impact our committed community can achieve together,” said Nancy Marshall, Co-Founder of Wild About Wildlife. “From our earliest fundraising efforts to today, we continue to welcome new champions who share our goal of helping more students experience and appreciate the natural world.”
The evening also recognized two distinguished leaders whose work has significantly advanced wildlife conservation and environmental education across South Florida and beyond. Amy Kight, CEO of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, received the Next Generation Environmental Hero Award, while Margo McKnight, President & CEO of Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, was honored as Conservationist of the Year.
“The passion shared by our honorees and supporters created an atmosphere of genuine connection,” said Dianne Bernstein, Chair of Wild About Wildlife. “We welcomed both new and returning friends of the mission, strengthening a growing community committed to ensuring future generations develop a lasting relationship with our natural environment.”
The program highlighted the impact of the South Florida Urban Wildlife Refuge Project and underscored the importance of environmental education throughout the region. A special video presentation featuring local students participating in Conservation Ranger Camp illustrated how Wild About Wildlife initiatives are expanding access to outdoor learning experiences and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.
Building on this year’s momentum, Wild About Wildlife will continue expanding partnerships that increase access to hands-on environmental education for students across Palm Beach County and South Florida.
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
+1 5613109921
email us here
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Facebook
X
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability
for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this
article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
