Grizzlies go green next week

The Seventh Annual NBA Green Week presented by Sprint and the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council) is just one of the ways the league, its teams and players are taking steps to be more environmentally friendly. Throughout March 22-29, Memphis Grizzlies players, staff and volunteers will play their part in the league-wide initiative to shed light on a brighter, greener future for the Memphis community.

Locally, Grizzlies Green Week presented by International Paper and associate sponsor MLGW, tips off on Thursday, March 26 when Grizzlies players Jon Leuer and Kosta Koufos will be at Shelby Farms Park from 3-4 p.m. helping to assist in material preparations for the Wolf River Conservancy 10^th Annual Tree Planting event held later that week on Saturday, March 28 at Shelby Farms Park. 

The Grizzlies’ “Go Green Night” presented by International Paper, is on Friday, March 27 in conjunction with the highly-anticipated Grizzlies vs. Golden State contest.  Prior to tip-off, the Grizzlies will host the Go Green Expo on the FedExForum Plaza from 5-7 p.m. (weather permitting). Fans will have the opportunity to learn how to live greener, thanks to volunteers from several conservancy groups and non-profits that focus on sustainability. Eco-friendly advice will be continued throughout the game as the Grizzlies share “Green Tips” through their in-arena broadcast and game presentations. In addition, presenting partner International Paper’s ecotainer® brand cups, made in the USA from fully renewable resources, will be used for drinks purchased throughout the FedExForum concourse. The ecotainer® brand cups are also compostable in commercial composting facilities.

As tip-off approaches, fans are encouraged to arrive early as the first 5,000 guests will receive a tree seedling. Fans are invited to join Grizz, the Grizz Girls and other volunteers the next day, Saturday, March 28, at Shelby Farms Park for the aforementioned tree-planting event from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (this is a rain or shine event). Those who received the seedlings are encouraged to bring them to the park and plant them to be a part of the event. 

Throughout the game, International Paper will provide all fans in attendance with an opportunity to take pictures with amazingly realistic life-sized corrugated cutouts of their favorite Grizzlies player. Fans can download the free Print Hammermill^TM App in order to download their photo directly from their smartphone to printers located in the International Paper zone outside sections 104-106.

On Saturday, March 28 the Memphis Grizzlies, International Paper, Wolf River Conservancy and other eco-friendly organizations will join forces at Shelby Farms Park in order to work toward their vision of planting 10,000 trees in the Wolf River Conservancy 10^th Annual Tree Planting event (6290 Haley Road, Memphis 38134). All Grizz fans are invited to take part in the Grizzlies Go Green week event. To register, please click here.