Glennon Card merchants help skyrocket sales in second year of support for SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center

ST. LOUIS, MO (Jan. 17, 2013) – The Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation and the Glennon Guild announced today that 2,000 Glennon Cards were sold during the second year of the discount shopping program, a 54 percent increase from last year. Card sales raised $100,000 for SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. Additional support, including presenting sponsor Fifth Third Bank, increased the amount raised to a grand total of $142,934.

“We’re excited the Glennon Card was such a success this year and hope our efforts made a difference,” said Tom Welch, president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank, St. Louis. “At the end of the day, it all comes down to how the money raised can help save the lives of children, and Cardinal Glennon is the place for that.”

The Glennon Card entitles card purchasers to a 20 percent discount at participating businesses during the designated 10-day shopping period. In 2012, more than 285 shops, restaurants and salons participated, an increase of 60 merchants from 2011.

Cards were sold by Guild members and select merchants leading to the shopping period of Oct. 26 to Nov. 4. Merchants came out in full force, selling 921 cards, including 109 cards sold from the highest seller, Williams-Sonoma of Plaza Frontenac. Proceeds from the 2012 program will be used to buy new heart and lung monitoring equipment for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and special needs at the medical center.

“We are thrilled to have the increased support of so many area businesses who participated in our second year,” said Dan Buck, executive director of Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation. “Thanks to their excitement and assistance they have helped take Glennon Card to the next level of success. We look forward to Glennon Card 2013 in the fall and welcome area merchants who would like to join us in this community-wide charitable effort.”

“We loved being part of Glennon Card, because we reap the benefits of selling our merchandise, and we are helping Cardinal Glennon kids at the same time; it’s a win-win,” said Kate Butterbrodt, general manager of Williams-Sonoma in Frontenac. “It’s been a fantastic way to drive business to our stores just before the holiday rush.”

The Glennon Guild is a 300-member volunteer women’s organization founded to support SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center and the 200,000 children they serve each year.