Every October, the Glennon Card gives St. Louisans the chance to give back while patronizing some of their favorite stores, restaurants and more. By purchasing a $60 card, you unlock a 20% discount at more than 340 local businesses, and 100% of card sales benefit the young patients at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. This year’s shopping period ends Oct. 22, but there’s still time to check out the great businesses participating, including those at West County Center. “We’ve encouraged our stores to participate in the Glennon Card since the early years of the initiative,” notes Sean Phillips, senior marketing director for the Des Peres shopping center. “It’s a great program.”
This year, there are five West County Center stores participating in the program. Arch Apparel and The Normal Brand are two popular local clothing brands. The Back Store is a locally owned business focused on mattresses, pillows, linens and accessories. Outdoor enthusiasts won’t want to miss Gearhead Outfitters, which has its only St. Louis location at the center. Along with on-site candle-making, Pure Perfection Candles offers skin care, reed diffusers, room sprays and more. “It’s a great variety of stores participating—you can get everything from outdoor apparel to home goods,” Phillips notes. “Several of the businesses are local, so that’s an additional perk.
The Glennon Card shopping period falls at the perfect time to get a head start on holiday shopping. Another benefit is that several participating businesses don’t offer regular discounts, according to Phillips. “For many of these stores, this is a rare opportunity,” he explains. “You may be able to get deals at end-of-year clearances, but otherwise, the Glennon Card is an almost unprecedented chance to save 20%. I like to use the card myself to save at restaurants and stores that don’t often offer discounts.”
For Phillips, the program is a win-win-win for the entire community. He notes that stores that choose to participate see new customers come in during the shopping period. Meanwhile, shoppers get a discount, and they also make a meaningful donation to the hospital. “It is a unique opportunity to support local businesses while giving back,” he notes. “I have three children myself, and while we’re lucky to have never needed SSM Health Cardinal Glennon, it’s such an important resource for our community. It really is amazing that 100% of card sales go to the hospital. It’s why I’m passionate that West County Center continues to support the program.”
Since its founding in 2011, the Glennon Card program has raised more than $2.3 million. The funds have supported initiatives like the Orthwein Center for Infant and Child Nutrition, the 3D Printing Center of Excellence, The Danis Pediatric Center and a number of enhancements to patient areas. Glennon Card funds also have gone toward different programs at the hospital, such as the Knights of Columbus Developmental Center, Footprints and Reach Out and Read.
Picture at top: The Normal Brand at West County Center is among the more than 340 local businesses participating in the Glennon Card program.
Photo courtesy of West County Center
