Care Card: Save on holiday shopping and help Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Phoenix Children's Hospital, Care Card, October 2016, Board of Visitors
Save on holiday shopping while helping Phoenix Children’s Hospital with the Care Card starting Oct. 28.

It never hurts to have an excuse to shop. This month, the Board of Visitors Care Card offers just that. During 10 days each fall, Care Card holders get a 20 percent discount at hundreds of Valley stores and restaurants — just in time for holiday shopping.

And for the third year, Care Card also will generate thousands of dollars for the Developmental Pediatric Program at Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, which helps parents of children with ADHD, autism, Down syndrome, Fragile X and more navigate the often complicated world of their child’s medical needs.

The Board of Visitors, which sponsors the annual shopping fundraiser, works to serve the health-care needs of women and children.

“In the 17 years we’ve been selling Care Card, we’ve raised $2.5 million for our recipients, which included Ryan House [a nonprofit that offers pediatric respite and palliative care],” says Chris Epstein, retail chairwoman for the 2016 Care Card.

The program runs Friday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 6, and includes as many as 500 stores and restaurants.

For loyal Care Card supporter Connie Genrich, an excuse to dine out is the big draw.

“The restaurants are fabulous,” says Genrich, who has bought a card every year since the program’s inception. “We go out to dinner the whole week Care Card is on, trying different restaurants all the time.”

This year, Upward Projects restaurants — including Postino, Joyride Taco House, Churn and Federal Pizza — are participating. Other popular participating retailers (many of which don’t typically offer discounts) include West Elm, Crate & Barrel, the Container Store and Williams-Sonoma.

“We love to see our guests enjoy getting value while they’re supporting a local charity such as Phoenix Children’s Hospital,” says Cindy Abijaoude, general manager at the Biltmore Williams-Sonoma, whose store has participated in Care Card for 10 years. She says Care Card brings in holiday shoppers, and she remembers one boss in particular who made the season a little merrier because of it.

“He wanted to give high-end gifts to his staff for Christmas, and he was able to do that by using his Care Card,” she says.

Board of Visitors, Care Card, Phoenix Children's HospitalThe Board of Visitors Care Card

Purchase a Card Card for $60 at thecarecard.org or at participating retailers noted online. This year’s shopping dates are Oct. 28 through Nov. 6. Participating stores and restaurants give cardholders a 20 percent discount.

Kid-friendly retailers participating in the Care Card include: Babystop, Bricks Dance Studio, Churn (ice cream), GapKids, Garage, Girly Girlz Tea & Trinkets, Hissyfits, Kidstop Toys and Books, Peek Kids, Skechers, Stacy’s Hallmark and more.