By Sheryl Lilly Pidgeon | Editor-in-Chief
Partners Card is the signature fundraiser for The Family Place, the largest family violence agency in Texas, and a premier charity shopping & dining event in DFW. Now in its 31st year, Partners Card has raised over $20 million to help break the cycle of family violence in our community.
Q & A with Melissa Keeling, Bank of Texas Market Manager
Good Life Family interviewed Melissa Keeling, Commercial Banking Market Manager with presenting sponsor Bank of Texas to inquire why the bank has taken such a major role in Partners Card benefiting The Family Place.
Q: Why is it important for Bank of Texas to participate in Partners Card, and what does this sponsorship mean to you and your team?
A: Domestic violence has no place in our community, and the funding provided to The Family Place by Partners Card sales makes a big difference to The Family Place in its efforts to raise awareness and ultimately eliminate domestic violence. Just one card purchase can pay for a night’s stay for a victim of domestic violence at The Family Place.
Q: Is there anything in particular that drew you corporately to the Family Place?
A: The Family Place is an organization that aligns with our core value of “actively advance the communities we serve” and is included in our pillars of giving under basic needs. The work The Family Place does to help end domestic violence is vital to the safety and growth of our communities that we live and work in. We are proud to support organizations that are continually making a difference in the communities we do business in and look forward to continuing our support of The Family Place for many years to come.
Q: What are some of your favorite merchants participating in Partners Card? Why do you feel it is important to support the merchants who participate?
A: Some of my favorites are Toy Maven, St. Bernard’s Sports, AG Jeans, and CAMP. I feel it is important to support the retailers to participate because each of them is doing their part to raise community awareness, especially considering that 1 in 3 people will experience domestic violence at some point in their life.
Q: Anything personal that has connected you specifically to this important cause?
A: I know far too many families who have been impacted by domestic violence in some way, and feel it is important to make sure the community is involved in the solution.
100% of your Partners Card purchase goes directly to supporting survivors of family violence and the services of The Family Place
Q: How do I get the card?
A: You can purchase a card for $75 at any of the participating merchants and restaurants or purchase online at: https://www.familyplace.org/partners-card/buy-a-card
ABOUT PARTNERS CARD:
Partners Card is the signature fundraiser for The Family Place, the largest family violence agency in Texas. The premier charity shopping event in DFW runs now through November 7th.
Founded in 1993 by Sally Hoglund and Sally Johnson, and with Gene Jones serving as its first Honorary Chair, The Family Place launched Partners Card with 175 participating stores and raised $90,000. Now in its 29th year, Partners Card has over 550 retail partners and has raised over $20 million to help break the cycle of family violence in the DFW community.
The 2021 co-chairs Rachel Osburn, Caroline Snell Wagner and Jane Wallingford plan to have a record-breaking year with the support of the DFW community. Here’s what they shared with Good Life Family.
PARTNERS CARD 2023
October 27 – November 5
Partners Card is the signature fundraiser for The Family Place, the largest family violence agency in Texas, and a premier charity shopping & dining event in DFW. Now in its 31st year, Partners Card has raised over $20 million to help break the cycle of family violence in our community.
100% of your Partners Card purchase goes directly to supporting survivors of family violence and the services of The Family Place. Your $75 Partners Card pays for 1 night of safety for a survivor of family violence at The Family Place shelters.
2023 Partners Card Co-Chairs
Katy Brooks Sharon Lee Clark Kameron Westcott
Honorary Chair
Tom McCollum
Partners Card History
Partners Card revenue has made it possible for The Family Place to provide services and programs to survivor of family violence including emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis hotline, trained adult & children’s counselors, transitional housing, incest recovery, youth education, job & financial training, childcare & education, legal assistance, and community advocacy.
1993 – The Family Place launched Partners Card with 175 participating stores. Ms. Gene Jones served as the first Honorary Chair. Sally Hoglund and Sally Johnson founded the inaugural event which raised $90,000.
1998 – Partners Card revenue exceeded half a million dollars with more than 10,000 cards sold.2000 – Partners Card grew to more than 500 participating stores.
2007 – Partners Card celebrated 15 years of success, raising $905,000 to help battered women, children and men.
2010 – For the first time, Partners Card raised more than $1 million. The Family Place opens its school facility for K-2nd grade students at our Safe Campus.
2017 – Partners Card celebrated 25 years of shopping with purpose! Partners Card Mobile App and E-Commerce are successfully launched to propel Partners Card into the future of technology. Partners Card raised over $1 million and provided more than 14,000 nights of shelter for victims of family violence.
2020 – In an uncertain year due to Covid-19, Partners Card was a bright spot for The Family Place and local businesses. Participation from stores and shoppers showed Partners Card as an important part of the DFW Community. Retailers, sponsors and supporters adapted to the challenging year. Partners Card raised almost $1 million and provided over 12,000 nights of shelter at The Family Place.