Silver Spring, MD - The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation today announced a $1.5-million fundraising campaign to create and install dynamic and interactive exhibits that interpret the Florida Keys ecosystem as part of a planned world-class visitor center in Key West. Construction on the interagency facility, the highlight of the Dr. Nancy Foster Florida Keys Environmental Center, is due to begin in early 2004, and the Center is due to open in Spring of 2005.

The visitor center, a cooperative effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Park Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, will highlight the many unique features of the Florida Keys ecosystem. In addition, the Dr. Nancy Foster Florida Keys Environmental Center complex will house new administrative offices for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, as well as operational and vessel docking facilities. Exhibits inside the Visitor Center are the focus of the fundraising effort, as funding for construction is already secure.

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen will serve as Honorary Co-Chair of the effort. "I am pleased to be an Honorary Co-Chair of such a great project that will be around for many, many years and that will also serve to teach everyone the value of our environment and the importance of protecting it." Additional Honorary Committee Members include: Monroe County Mayor Dixie Spehar, Monroe County Mayor Pro Tem Murray Nelson, Monroe County
Commissioner George Neugent, and Monroe County Commissioner David Rice.

The local fundraising committee will be co-chaired by Bob Holston and Cece Roycraft of Dive Key West. “We are very excited about this project,” said Roycraft. “Bob and I have been involved with the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary since its inception and have always supported ways to recognize this unique resource, especially through educational efforts. This Visitor Center is the perfect opportunity to achieve that goal. We believe the community will be very receptive to the project and will enthusiastically engage in our fundraising efforts.”

Local committee members include: Captain Todd Firm of Keys Diver Snorkel Tours; Linda Geyer, General Manager of Sheraton Suites Key West; Rhona Heyl; Peter Ilchuk, President of The Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and Key West; Captain Don Kincaid, Stars and Stripes Catamaran; Nancy Klingener, Florida Keys Program Manager for The Ocean Conservancy; Tom Lavender, Merchant Services Sales Manager for First State Bank; Tom Sawyer, President of the Key West Chamber of Commerce; and Jeff Ware of Jeff's Underwater Videos.

The visitor center will feature 6,000 square feet of interactive, professionally developed and stimulating exhibits and presentations/shows on the Florida Keys ecosystem. Program topics will include the biodiversity of the Florida Keys, human interaction with the environment, the management of marine protected areas, the wonders of the ocean, and the maritime culture and history of the area.

“The Center promises to be a vital and popular educational resource for residents and visitors alike,” said NMSF Executive Director Lori Arguelles. “The design team has incorporated many unique features that will enable visitors to experience and appreciate the Florida Keys ecosystem. This kind of experience is central to the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation‘s goal of inspiring Americans to care about and care for the oceans and the sanctuaries themselves.”

The Center is named for the late Dr. Nancy Foster, a pioneer for coastal stewardship and protection of marine species, who promoted programs to explore, map, protect and develop the sustainability of our Nation's coastal and fishery resources.