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Pink Ribbon Bagels At Ten Panera Cafes In Rhode Island And Nearby Massachusetts To Benefit The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 9, 2013 — Ten Panera Bread bakery-cafes in Rhode Island (Cranston, East Greenwich, Newport, Providence, Smithfield, Wakefield and Warwick) and nearby Massachusetts (North Attleborough, Plainville and Seekonk) are inviting their customers to join the fight against breast cancer by enjoying a signature Pink Ribbon Bagel for breakfast, lunch or dinner during national Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.  In celebration of the 12th Annual Pink Ribbon Bagel Campaign, twenty-five cents from each Pink Ribbon Bagel sold at these bakery-cafes will be donated to the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation in Pawtucket, RI for its breast health programs and initiatives, including support of its “Hope Bus”, a mobile wellness and community outreach program which delivers services and resources across Rhode Island and into Massachusetts.  The ten participating Panera Bread bakery-cafes are owned and operated by leading franchisee, Howley Bread Group, LTD based in Cumberland, RI.

“Last year was the first year we were the exclusive beneficiary of the Pink Ribbon Bagel Campaign in Rhode Island, as well as three of its four cafes in nearby Massachusetts, and it really helped make a positive impact on our activities,” said Maria Gemma Corcelli, Executive Director of the Foundation.  “We anticipate that the funds generated from this year’s campaign will go directly to our efforts to promote the importance of early detection and breast cancer education and awareness.”  Gemma added that the Hope Bus’ primary mission is to raise breast health awareness, encourage threefold screening (breast self exam, annual clinical exam and annual mammograms) and provide educational resources about breast cancer.

The Panera Pink Ribbon Bagel is baked fresh daily in each of Panera Bread’s bakery-cafes and features cherry chips, dried cherries, cranberries, vanilla, honey and brown sugar.  The project follows the tradition of “thinking pink” during the month of October in the quest to eradicate breast cancer.  Sue Stees, one of Panera Bread’s first franchisees and a breast cancer survivor, developed the idea for the bagel in 2001 as a way to help support the cause. Today, the program is employed in most of Panera Bread’s more than 1,600 bakery-cafes.

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“Panera Bread and Howley Bread Group are committed to serving the residents of the local community, many of whom have had their lives touched by breast cancer,” said Jim Ramaglia, District Manager for Panera Bread/HBG.  “All our associates are excited to wear our new Pink Ribbon Bagel hats in the cafe to promote the campaign and show our support for the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation in its continuing efforts to increase breast cancer awareness and education.”

The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation was established in 2004 in honor of Gloria Gemma, two years after this wife and mother of nine lost her courageous fight against breast cancer.  A devout woman, Gloria instilled in her children strong family values and the importance of helping people in need.  Through their grief, Gloria’s children realized they needed to so something to help fight this horrific disease and save lives.  The Foundation’s mission is to raise breast cancer awareness, increase breast health education, enhance the quality of life for cancer patients, their families and friends, and generate funding for local breast health programs.  The organization states that 100% of the net proceeds remain in greater Rhode Island.

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Since its inception in 2004, the Foundation has worked diligently to raise awareness and increase breast cancer education.  The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource & Wellness Center opened its doors in February of 2008 and Gloria’s eldest daughter, Maria Gemma Corcelli, was named Executive Director.  Since then, thousands of breast cancer patients and survivors have taken advantage of the Center’s many healing programs.  For more information on funding, grants, volunteering or upcoming events and programs, please contact 401-861-HERO (4376).

Panera Bread/HBG also recently announced a partnership with Feeding America® where local Feeding America member food banks will receive all the funds collected through the local cafes’ Panera Cares Community Breadbox™ Program.  The Program gives customers the opportunity to donate money at the counter to support the food bank’s efforts to provide quality, nutritious food to local individuals and families in need.  In addition, Panera Bread/HBG’s local cafes support charitable causes through its Day-End Dough-Nation™ program where daily leftover bread, bagels and pastries are given to local food pantries, hunger relief agencies and other community organizations to address the need for food distribution in our local communities.

All Panera Bread locations are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offer a variety of menu items, including breads and bagels, breakfast sandwiches, creative lunch and dinner sandwiches, pastas, hand-tossed salads, homemade soups and a variety of espresso beverages. Panera Bread Catering also caters and delivers its full menu for any occasion at the office or home.  The breakfast, lunch and dinner assortment is sure to impress every time.  For a Panera Bread Catering menu and more, please visit the cafe or www.paneracatering.com.

Howley Bread Group, LTD based in Cumberland, RI is one of Panera Bread’s top franchises in the country.  The franchisee owns and operates a total of twenty-six bakery-cafes in Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and Greater Hartford/Eastern Connecticut markets.  For more information, please contact wendy.kopp@panerabread.com or visit the company’s web site atwww.panerabreadhbg.com.

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