October is almost over, which means the holiday season is fast approaching. If you’re looking to start checking items off your shopping list a little early, don’t miss out on the Glennon Card shopping period. Every fall, the initiative offers St. Louisans a chance to support the young patients at
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital while also showing love to great local businesses.
Glennon Card is organized through a collaboration between SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation and Glennon Guild, a women’s auxiliary with more than 300 members. This year’s shopping period runs through Oct. 25. With the purchase of a $70 card, shoppers get 20% savings at more than 340 stores, restaurants and service providers. All proceeds from card sales go toward supporting the future of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon. “The Glennon Card brings people together for one common purpose,” notes Mary Ellen Stephens, a Glennon Guild member and sponsor of the Glennon Card. “Whether you’re a business owner, a volunteer or someone purchasing a card, you’re helping make a difference in the lives of children and families right here in St. Louis.”
Stephens joined the Glennon Guild after her youngest child left for college. She saw it as an opportunity to focus on new things. Along with earning her real estate license, she started looking for ways to give back to the community. She was introduced to the Glennon Guild through another member, Traci Ragsdale, who invited her to attend a meeting. “I knew right away that I wanted to be part of it,” Stephens says. “SSM Health Cardinal Glennon had already played an important role in our family’s life, and joining the guild felt like the perfect opportunity to give back to a hospital that had given us so much.”
The Stephens family’s journey with SSM Health Cardinal Glennon began when one of their children’s teachers shared he was struggling to meet expectations. His pediatrician referred the family to the hospital for testing. “Once we had a diagnosis, we knew he would need support beyond the classroom to find his footing and thrive in school,” Stephens explains. “That’s when he began working with Beth Mee, a speech-language pathologist at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon. For six years, she worked with him every week, helping him build skills that carried him through high school, college and into adulthood. He’s now pursuing his master’s degree.”
Proceeds from this year’s Glennon Card program will benefit The Devoted Fund for a new SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, helping it bring comfort and care to even more families like the Stephenses. “I hope people realize what an incredible resource SSM Health Cardinal Glennon is for our community,” Stephens says. “Until you need its services, you may not fully appreciate the impact it has on so many children and families. The Glennon Card is a wonderful example of how our community can come together to make a difference. It’s a simple way to give back while supporting the local businesses that make St. Louis such a special place.”
Pictured at the top: Scott, Mary Kate, Mary Ellen and Robbie Stephens/
Photo courtesy of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation
