Patch 'Click to Claim' Winner Announced

Congratulations to University City's "U City in Bloom" nonprofit, which is the winner of the . The monthlong contest ended on Sunday, and was designed to give businesses and readers a chance to help local charities with nothing but a few clicks of the mouse related to robust business directories on local Patch sites.

- Patch came in third overall with 27 new claimed listings during the contest period, edged out of second place by only one more listing from Webster Patch, which had 28 new listings.

in Wildwood would have received a complimentary advertising budget if our site would have won the contest.

The contest asked local business owners to "claim" their listings in the Patch business directory. Claiming a listing gives owners power to add to and change listings, add their social media links and use other special tools to promote their business.

The contest started March 7. Patch readers nominated local charities to be beneficiaries of the contest. And the Patch site with the most new claimed listings in a month's time won an advertising package on Patch worth up to $3,500 for that organization. The Patch advertising team will contact U City in Bloom, which won because University City Patch gained 34 new claimed listings during the contest timeframe.

Patch teams thank local business owners and entity leaders, who collectively claimed 203 listings in the month. It's not too late to claim yours, and it's free. Overall, since Patch sites launched in the St. Louis and St. Charles region, Eureka-Wildwood Patch entities have done fairly well at claiming local listings—garnering the second highest total among the 24 Patch websites in Missouri (second only to the St. Charles Patch site). But, obviously, we can and should keep going to represent our areas the best possible.

Claiming a listing is fast and easy (view the accompanying new Patch video about managing listings):

1. If you're already a Patch user, make sure you sign in (join or log in)  first.
2. Click on the "Directory" tab at the top of the page.
3. Search for your business/organization and click on it.
4. Scroll halfway down the page to where it says, "Do you own or manage this location? Claim it!" Click on "Claim It."
5. Complete the four-question form providing all necessary information to expedite your claim.

Please allow three to five business days for Patch staffers to evaluate and approve the claim. You will be notified by email once it's approved.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this contest for nonprofits.