Benevolent Bargains: The Genius of the Family Place Partners Card

Most anyone who knows me knows about my obsession with The Family Place Partners Card. I was an early adopter, a really early adopter. We shopped with our very first Partners Card at Harold’s in Highland Park Village after learning about it from a salesperson there almost 20 years ago. Does anyone still remember Harold’s?  Harold’s was at the center of the preppy printed pant movement that closed out our last millennia and was ultimately responsible for the leather braided belt trend that followed. (You’re welcome.)  So when I say I am a fan of the Partners Card, I really mean it. Here’s the deal – the Partners Card is a discount card you purchase whereby you save twenty percent at major retailers around Dallas. 20% at MAJOR retailers — Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, Tumi, The Container Store — the list goes on and on. You get 10 days (including two weekends) to save using the Partners Card.  I research, plan, and strategize weeks in advance of the savings window in my best attempt to maximize the greatness of the discount. As a matter of fact, holiday hiring and shopping starts weeks earlier in North Texas than it does elsewhere because of the retail volume generated during the Partners Card period.  (It’s right around the corner: October 26 – November 4, 2018 for your own planning purposes, by the way.)  But this card is about more than just the savings. It’s about contributing to an organization that does amazing work in our community.

The issue of domestic violence (now commonly referred to as ‘intimate partner violence’ as victims often don’t share a home with their perpetrator) is prevalent across all races, levels of wealth, and most all other socioeconomic indicators.  Domestic violence against men is also rising at a staggering rate. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) reports that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience some form of physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime, and it’s far more common in young adult relationships.  This is clearly an issue that pervades our community.  On the brighter side, Dallas is fortunate to have a number of fantastic nonprofit organizations working in support of survivors and their families. The Family Place is unique in the Dallas charitable landscape for several reasons.  First, it’s the only family violence emergency shelter in the community that has a program for men.   Next, because studies indicate that many victims with pets tend to stay in abusive situations for fear of harm to their animals if they leave, The Family Place recently opened a facility with dog kennels, cat towers, and veterinary care to supplement their otherwise human-centered programs.  And finally, they are the purveyors of the Partners Card.

As the story goes, Paige Flink, the current CEO of The Family Place, imported the Partners Card idea from a trip she took to Chicago more than 20 years ago.  She learned of a similar program while shopping there and knew that it would be successful in a community like Dallas.  And the rest… well, you know.  The Partners Card effort is primarily volunteer and represents the vast potential of our community and the commitment of local retailers to the intimate partner violence cause. 100% of the $70 purchase price of the Partners Card goes directly to the Family Place.  Conveniently, $70 also covers the cost of one night of safety for family violence victims at their shelter.  The event is a major fundraiser for the organization as it has raised more than $1 million every year since 2010.  This year the deal is even sweeter because the discount has been extended for online purchases with some retailers.  Needless to say, the Partners Card is a perfect fit for this Creative Charity series because of its uniqueness and, dare I say, genius approach to special event fundraising. For more information on The Family Place or intimate partner violence, visit www.familyplace.org.  You can purchase the Partners Card at participating retailers during the event (unfortunately the online sales window has closed).  Click HERE for a list of retailers and for more information.   Be sure to comment below with your Partners Card shopping tips and stories!

“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”
-Coco Chanel