Events

AUSTIN, Texas and WASHINGTON -- Whole Foods Market announced that it is teaming up with AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Festival, the nation's leading documentary festival, to award $50,000 in grant money to filmmakers working in the green film genre.

San Francisco -- Madison Marquette has announced the return of its retail business incubator program it calls Retail Star.

As part of the program, Madison Marquette is on the hunt for the third consecutive year to find entrepreneurs with new viable retail concepts.

The competition returns to Bayfair Center, in San Leandro, Calif., and kicks-off for the first time this year at Bay Street, in Emeryville, Calif., according to Madison Marquette.

KATY, Texas – Sue Miller Payton has been named director of marketing at Igloo Product Corp. In her new position, Payton will be responsible for all aspects of product marketing, promotion, advertising and public relations, cyber-marketing including all social media, special events and exhibits. She is based at the company’s corporate headquarters and primary manufacturing location in Katy, Texas.

BOSTON -- Sports Authority has been named the official partner of Major League Lacrosse, the league announced. 

Under terms of the agreement, Sports Authority will become the exclusive national sporting goods retailer of the MLL.

GRAPEVINE, Texas -- The Nintendo 3DS is drawing quite a buzz, and GameStop announced that it will host events at more than 3,000 of its U.S. stores around the launch of the highly anticipated gaming device.

The company is opening its stores early on March 27, the day the Nintendo 3DS becomes available. GameStop reported that 800 stores nationwide will open at 12:01 a.m. and more than 2,400 stores will open early at 9 a.m.

Recently I had one of the most immersive, exciting shopping experiences ever. I got to play with a bunch of cool products and to engage with employees and other shoppers who had similar tastes and interests as mine. The experience whetted my appetite for more products and I left totally pumped up about several brands. I told several people about my experience and they wanted to go check it out themselves. 

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- The Safeway Foundation announced that it has donated $100,000 and will match employee donations up to $50,000 to help with the Japan earthquake and tsunami relief effort. The contribution will be distributed to the impacted area through the American Red Cross.

Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties said that eleven of its malls in the Midwestern U.S. handed out 6,000 gifts during National Random Acts of Kindness week, Feb. 14-20.

The program is designed to give back to the community and support local nonprofit groups.

Redmond, Wash. -- Eddie Bauer and PlayNetwork have announced the launch of the Eddie Bauer Emerging Artist Program.

“The Eddie Bauer Emerging Artist Program was born from the spirit of adventure and discovery inherent in the First Ascent and Eddie Bauer brands,” said Kirsten Kinkead, multimedia producer at Eddie Bauer. “PlayNetwork is the ideal partner for this program because they have a true understanding of our core values and will translate that into media experiences that resonate with our customers.”

New York City -- Fast-fashion retailer Forever 21 has pledged to donate 100% of its global online sales on March 18 to help the victims of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami. 

All of Forever 21's e-commerce sites -- forever21.com, canada.forever21.com, forever21.com/eu, forever21.com/uk, forever21.co.kr, and forever21.co.jp -- are participating in the initiative.