September 18, 2026 - 6:30 pm -9:30 pm
The Beaches Museum will host its 13th annual Beach Legends Gala, on Friday, September 18, 2026, at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse. Recognizing that tomorrow’s history is being made today, the highlight of the evening is our annual awards presentation honoring local, well-known, contemporary individuals as Beach Legends.
The fun begins at 6:30 P.M. with cocktail hour and silent auction, followed by a seated dinner to recognize our 2026 honorees and conduct our live auction. This annual gala is our largest fundraising event. We need your sponsorship to ensure the success of this year’s gala! Proceeds will go toward the Museum’s educational programs and operational needs.
Since our first meeting on February 22, 1978, the Beaches Museum has worked to ensure that we “build a future for our past,” thanks to the support of individuals and organizations, including you! We would deeply appreciate your generosity to help us fulfill our mission.
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE AUCTION PACKAGE
MEET THE HONOREES
Bill Longenecker is a longtime surfer and respected figure in the Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach communities. Living for decades near A1A in the same family home purchased by his father in the early 1950s, he has maintained deep ties to the Beaches and its surfing culture.
Beginning in 1984, Longenecker became one of Florida’s longest-running daily surf reporters, providing phone-in surf reports for local surf shops, including Hixon’s and later Sunrise Surf Shops. For more than 40 years, surfers throughout Northeast Florida relied on his surf and weather updates.
Bill was also a gifted science teac
her and a columnist for the Beaches Leader and Shorelines newspapers for 40 years. As a trained paramedic, he worked in area hospitals for 25 years, assisting ER doctors and nurses. He still volunteers at Beaches Baptist Hospital.
Through decades of dedication and community involvement, as a science teacher, newspaper columnist, paramedic, and surf legend, Bill Longenecker has helped define the spirit of the Beaches community.
Karen Wolfson is a longtime educator, volunteer, and civic leader whose service to Northeast Florida has spanned more than 50 years. A former Girl Scout, she began her career in education in 1968, teaching at Florida Community College at Jacksonville before later joining the faculty at Fletcher High School, her alma mater. There, she met her husband, Don Wolfson, who later served as Mayor of Atlantic Beach.
Since 1985, Wolfson has been a dedicated advocate for Wolfson Children’s Hospital, serving 26 years on its Board of Directors, including five years as chair. She is also a past president of the hospital’s Women’s Board and remains active through several fundraising and outreach initiatives.
For nearly four decades, she has volunteered with Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry (BEAM), where she founded programs providing school supplies, clothing, and dental care to children in need. Through her lifelong commitment to children and families, Wolfson has become one of the Beaches community’s most respected civic leaders.
Founded in 1936, Proctor Ace Hardware is a fourth-generation, family-owned business with longstanding roots in Northeast Florida. Operating three Jacksonville-area locations, the company has earned a reputation for exceptional customer service, innovative retail practices, and steady growth over nearly 90 years.
Led by members of the Proctor family, including Steve, Joe, and Lizz Proctor, the business has remained deeply committed to community involvement alongside its commercial success. Proctor Ace Hardware supports numerous local initiatives, including Habitat for Humanity, community gardens, youth sports programs, and regional charitable campaigns. The company has also emphasized environmentally responsible business practices and neighborhood engagement.
In 2018, Proctor Ace Hardware was recognized as one of the nation’s “Coolest Hardware Stores,” highlighting its creative retail approach and strong community presence. Today, the company continues to balance tradition with innovation, maintaining its role as both a trusted local retailer and an active community partner throughout Jacksonville and the Beaches region.
