National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Launches 'Sea Star' Campaign to Raise Funds for Florida Keys Ec

Key West, Fla.--National leaders and local ocean advocates joined together recently for a key milestone in the development of the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center. President Bush's chief environmental advisor Jim Connaughton, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Ocean and Atmosphere Tim Keeney, ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, and Key West Mayor Jimmy Weekley all participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Center, hosted by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

"I am pleased to represent President Bush and his Administration in helping to break ground on the new Eco-Discovery Center that will inspire even more Americans to cherish the natural wonder of the Keys and preserve and protect its shores, waters, reefs, and vibrant eco-systems for generations to come. I applaud the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's 'Sea Star' campaign for making this a true public-private partnership in ocean stewardship," said Connaughton.

"The Florida Keys possesses one of the most unique and beautiful environments on the planet," said Ros-Lehtinen. "It is only fitting that a visitor center of this caliber dedicated to the environment and our ecosystem be built in Key West. The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center will have a significant impact on how the public views these resources in the future and will motivate both residents and visitors to help further protect them."

The Eco-Discovery Center will be a world-class visitor facility, part of the three-building Dr. Nancy Foster Florida Keys Environmental Complex which is slated to open in the summer of 2005 at the Truman Annex in Key West. The center will feature 6,000 square feet of interactive, professionally developed exhibits on the Florida Keys, and focus on human interaction with the environment, the management of marine protected areas, and the maritime culture and history of the area. The NMSF is raising $1.5 million to outfit the center with exhibitory. Federal funds have already been secured for the construction of the complex.

NMSF Trustee and ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau helped launch the Foundation's 'Sea Star' campaign in conjunction with the groundbreaking ceremony. The Sea Star campaign is a critical part of the Foundation's overall efforts to raise $1.5 million in private sector funds to outfit the Eco-Discovery Center with state-of-the-art exhibitory that will interpret the South Florida ecosystem.

"We want everyone to become a Sea Star today," said Cousteau. "We want people to have an opportunity to be a permanent part of this incredible environmental education center. This way we can all be Ambassadors for the Ocean Environment."

Individuals and organizations will have the opportunity to receive permanent recognition at the Eco-Discovery Center for their donation of $250, $500 or $1000. Concrete tiles in the shape of sea stars will be engraved with donor's names and imbedded in the walkway leading up to the Eco-Discovery Center lobby. Donations of $25, $50 and $100 will be recognized with a thank you gift of a car decal, mug or T-shirt all featuring the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center logo.

Click here to make a donation.

"We wanted to invite people to participate at all levels," said Sea Star campaign co-chairs Bob Holston and Cece Roycraft. "We are proud to participate in this effort, and believe it will have great benefits for the community." Holston and Roycraft are co-owners of Dive Key West and can provide additional information about how to participate in the campaign at (305) 296-3823.

The Eco-Discovery Center is a cooperative effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the National Park Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The federal partners are being supported by the fund raising capabilities of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is the private sector, non-profit partner to the federally managed National Marine Sanctuary Program, part of the U.S. Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Through public and private sector partnerships, the Foundation creates conservation-based programs designed to preserve, protect and promote these underwater treasures. For more information see www.nmsfocean.org.