A staple each October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, donations from the sale of the Pink Ribbon Bagel have now raised more than $1 million for breast cancer charities.
Panera Bread and its franchisees hope to make 2011 the largest year for donations ever.
“The Pink Ribbon Bagel is a customer favorite, in part because it’s a delicious way to start the day and because each bagel sold helps bring us one step closer to finding a cure for breast cancer,” said Tom Krings, operating partner. “Panera Bread is proud to work with the communities we serve to help raise money for such a worthy cause. In our market, The Chattanooga Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will receive the funds we raise to help support its fight against breast cancer.”
Shaped in the form of the iconic pink ribbon, Pink Ribbon Bagels feature cherry chips, dried cherries and cranberries, vanilla, honey, and brown sugar, and are baked fresh early each morning by Panera’s bakers at each bakery-cafe. For each bagel sold, at least 10 cents will be donated to support breast cancer awareness and research. Nearly two million Pink Ribbon Bagels were sold in 2010.
This year, Panera Bread is making it even easier to help fight breast cancer locally with the Power of Pink Baker’s Dozen. Throughout the month of October at participating bakery-cafes, one dollar from each baker’s dozen of bagels sold will be donated to The Chattanooga Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
From Oct.1 through Oct. 31,individuals can further help the cause by visiting the Panera Bread Facebook page at www.facebook.com/panerabread and clicking the “Like” button for the Panera Bread Virtual Pink Ribbon Bagel. Each time the bagel is “liked,” 10 cents (up to $25,000) will be donated to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and its mission to move breast cancer beyond a cure.
The Pink Ribbon Bagel concept began in 2001 when Sue Stees, franchise co-owner of 18 Panera Bread bakery-cafes and a breast cancer survivor, began searching for ways to help other women fighting the same disease. Her search led her to the kitchen where she developed the Pink Ribbon Bagel. She sold 27,000 bagels in her bakery-cafes that first year and was awarded the “You Can Make a Difference Award” from Susan G. Komen for the Cure. To date, more than seven million Pink Ribbon Bagels have been sold.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this simple bagel concept — created in my Tulsa bakery-cafe — would grow to where it is today, educating the community on breast cancer and inspiring those who are fighting this disease,” Stees said. “I’m extremely blessed to have survived to see the Pink Ribbon Bagel make such an impact over the last 10 years.”
About Panera Bread
Panera Bread Company owns and franchises 1,493 bakery-cafes as of June 28, 2011 under the Panera Bread®, Saint Louis Bread Co.®, and Paradise Bakery & Café® names. We feature high quality, reasonably priced food in a warm, inviting, and comfortable environment. With our identity rooted in handcrafted, fresh-baked, artisan bread, we are committed to providing great tasting, quality food that people can trust. Nearly all of our bakery-cafes have a menu highlighted by antibiotic-free chicken, whole grain bread, and select organic and all natural ingredients, with zero grams of artificial trans fat per serving, which provide flavorful, wholesome offerings. Our menu includes a wide variety of year-round favorites complemented by new items introduced seasonally with the goal of creating new standards in everyday food choices. In neighborhoods across the United States and in Ontario, Canada, our customers enjoy our warm and welcoming environment featuring comfortable gathering areas, relaxing decor, and free Internet access. Our bakery-cafes routinely donate bread and baked goods to community organizations in need. Additional information is available on our website, http://www.panerabread.com.
For more information about the The Chattanooga Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, please visit www.komenchattanooga.org.
About the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation
The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, an accredited 501 (c) (3) public charity, was founded in 1983 to eradicate breast cancer and improve the quality of women’s health through innovative research, education, and advocacy. While advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, it is the Foundation’s mission to discover the causes of breast cancer and how to prevent its development. In 2008, the Dr. Susan Love research Foundation launched the innovative Army of Women campaign in order to recruit a much need 1 million women to participate in preventative breast cancer research studies. For more information on the foundation, please visit www.dslrf.org.
