August 12, 2003

Mr. Robert Fluke
Environmental Manager
Manatee County
Environmental Management Department
202 6th Avenue, East
Bradenton, Florida 34208
via email

Dear Mr. Fluke,

It gives me great pleasure to accept Manatee County, Florida into the Reef Ball Foundation’s grant programs, Reefs Around the World. We place a high priority on educational programs and your letter demonstrates that your project places a strong emphasis on enviromental education and you have put a great deal of thought and work into planning the project.

In keeping with the grant requirements, we require a monitoring program-two monitoring updates per year for three years and please send us any press/newsletters relating to the Reef Balls.(Please see grant requirements and the benefits you are now eligible for on our website:www.reefball.org.) As you are developing your program, we are keen on community collaboration and educational components that help raise awareness to the importance of the our reef systems and marine habitat. From experience, we have found that adding these components adds greater life to the project as the community gets ownership in the project.

We are excited about our new partnership with Manatee County and developing a stellar educational program. Please contact Todd Barber or myself if you have any further questions. We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Katherine Kirbo

Executive Director,

The Reef Ball Foundation

kathy@reefball.com