Westport's Vineyard Vines Store Teams with Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk on Fundraiser

NORWALK, CT — Shop at a Vineyard Vines store in Westport, Greenwich or New Canaan on the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 5, and support The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, as part of a new partnership between the store and the family attraction.

Shoppers can save 10 percent on their entire purchase between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday at those three Vineyard Vines stores, in addition to the chain's stores in Grand Central Station, 3rd Avenue in Manhattan and Short Hills, NJ.

As a bonus, those stores will donate 10 percent of all money raised during those four hours to The Maritime Aquarium and its efforts behind environmental education, healthier waterways and clean world oceans.

"We thank Vineyard Vines for this marvelous opportunity for shoppers and for The Maritime Aquarium," said Dr. Brian Davis, president of the aquarium, in a statement. "We encourage everyone to go to Vineyard Vines this Friday afternoon and support the Aquarium by saving money on some great clothes and accessories. It will be the perfect time to do some back-to- school shopping."

In addition, now through Sept. 16, pick up a #WhalesForACause coloring page at The Maritime Aquarium or at participating Vineyard Vines stores, or download one from www.maritimeaquarium.org. The sheet features the Vineyard Vines whale logo – not in its usual pink but plain white. Color the whale logo however you wish, cut it out and share it with the hashtag #WhalesForACause and the tag @VineyardVines on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

For each user who posts a whale, the preppy clothing giant will donate $1 to The Maritime Aquarium.

"This generous endorsement demonstrates that Vineyard Vines is a company that acts on its commitment to the community and the environment, and encourages its customers to do the same," Davis said. "We’re thrilled to make this new connection."

The fund-raising efforts are just part of an exciting new collaboration between the Aquarium and the Stamford-based retailer, which was founded by Greenwich brothers Shep and Ian Murray.

For example, the Aquarium and its new hybrid-electric research vessel also are featured in Vineyard Vines’ 2016 Back-to-School catalog. The mailer shows youngsters modeling clothes aboard R/V Spirit of the Sound ™ and includes information about the Aquarium and a link to its website.

In promoting #WhalesForACause, Vineyard Vines’ website says: “Playing, sailing, enjoying the beach – we grew up on the shores of the Long Island Sound. We’re proud to team up with Connecticut’s Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk to help preserve this amazing marine resource.”

Learn more about Vineyard Vines at www.vineyardvines.com.

The #WhalesForACause fund-raiser is part of The Maritime Aquarium’s larger “Whale of a Month” Aug. 6-Sept. 5 (Labor Day), which celebrates the recent sightings of humpback whales in western Long Island Sound. Other highlights include:

– the “Giant Walk-In Whale,” a 43-foot inflatable humpback whale that lets Aquarium guests experience the scale of a whale, both inside and out.

– a staffed whale station featuring real baleen to touch, plus other hands-on activities. (Offered on alternating days.)

– screenings of the IMAX ® movie “Humpback Whales.”

– and the special exhibit “Animals Without Passports,” which explains the challenges of humpback whales’ annual 3,000-mile migration.

For more information about The Maritime Aquarium’s exhibits, programs and IMAX movies, go to www.maritimeaquarium.org.

Photo: R/V Spirit of the Sound ™. Photo credit: Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk