There was Ramen and Rissotto, the alligators and Rivali, Remus and Cass, the hawks and owl who welcomed the approximately 150 guests at the Wild About Wildlife event to benefit the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge Association. The event was held outdoors in the lush gardens at the home of Richard and Dragana Connaughton in Palm Beach. 

The evening raised $130,000 for the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and the 28 other national wildlife refuges in Florida. Co-chairs were Dragana Connaughton, Nancy Marshall, and Elaine Meier. Honorary Chair was Marshall Field V. Wildlife was provided by Busch Wildlife Sanctuary.

Focusing on the corridor north of Lake Okeechobee, which provides water flow down through the remainder of the Everglades to Biscayne Bay, the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge is home to over 200 species of birds and wildlife, including the Florida panther.

The staff collaborates daily with ranchers, educating the next generation of advocates, and conducting community outreach programs to preserve the corridor and to protect this precious resource from future development.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association, is the leading independent voice advocating on behalf of the National Wildlife Refuge System, which protects, promotes, and enhances America’s wildlife. There are 568 national wildlife refuges nationwide.

Arlette Gordon, Rob Russell and Sally O’Connor | Leonard Bryant

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 Arlette Gordon, Rob Russell and Sally O’Connor | Leonard Bryant

Bill and Marianne Buchanan with Richard Connaughton | Leonard Bryant

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 Bill and Marianne Buchanan with Richard Connaughton | Leonard Bryant

Scientists Dr. Paul Gray, and Dr. Tom Hoctor, with Julie Morris, Florida and Gulf Coast Manager at the National Wildlife Refuge Association | Leonard Bryant

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 Scientists Dr. Paul Gray, and Dr. Tom Hoctor, with Julie Morris, Florida and Gulf Coast Manager at the National Wildlife Refuge Association | Leonard Bryant

Dragana Connaughton with bird handlers from Busch Wildlife Sanctuary | Leonard Bryant

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 Dragana Connaughton with bird handlers from Busch Wildlife Sanctuary | Leonard Bryant

E Gray Payne with Kyriakos Vergos and his daughter, Ariana | Leonard Bryant

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 E Gray Payne with Kyriakos Vergos and his daughter, Ariana | Leonard Bryant

Heather Becker and Wild About Wildlife Honorary Chair, Marshall Field V at the event | Leonard Bryant

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 Heather Becker and  Wild About Wildlife  Honorary Chair, Marshall Field V at the event | Leonard Bryant

Jim Strickland with donation auction item | Leonard Bryant

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 Jim Strickland with donation auction item | Leonard Bryant

Linqing Yang and Cameron Lickle at Wild About Wildlife event | Leonard Bryant

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 Linqing Yang and Cameron Lickle at  Wild About Wildlife  event | Leonard Bryant

Marti LaTour and George Elmore | Leonard Bryant

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 Marti LaTour and George Elmore | Leonard Bryant

Wild About Wildlife Co-chair Nancy Marshall with Jeff Koons | Leonard Bryant

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 Wild About Wildlife Co-chair Nancy Marshall with Jeff Koons | Leonard Bryant

Wild About Wildlife Co-chairs: Nancy Marshall, Dragana Connaughton, and Elaine Meier, with Amy Kight, Executive Director, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary | Leonard Bryant

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 Wild About Wildlife Co-chairs: Nancy Marshall, Dragana Connaughton, and Elaine Meier, with Amy Kight, Executive Director, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary | Leonard Bryant

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