FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAPE COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS PLEDGE $3,000 FOR HORTICULTURE GREENHOUSE

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Sept. 13, 2002 - The Cape County Master Gardeners recently pledged $3,000 to the Southeast Missouri University Foundation to support a new horticulture greenhouse at Southeast Missouri State University. In making their pledge commitment, representatives of the Cape County Master Gardeners presented a $1,000 check to the Southeast Missouri University Foundation. The Department of Agriculture at Southeast is working to enhance its horticulture program by building a new greenhouse complex. The first phase of the expansion calls for a new 11,000-square-foot greenhouse plus a head house (work building) to accompany it. The second phase calls for building a classroom laboratory building, an arboretum, walkways and turf management facilities. Total cost of the first phase of the project is $650,000. Thus far, about $400,000 has been raised. The Southeast Missouri University Foundation will match all donations toward the project one for one, up to $144,000.