Panera Bread Kicks off Fundraising for the 15th Annual Children’s Friend 5K Walk & Run

 Panera Bread Kicks off Fundraising for the 15^th Annual Children’s Friend 5K Walk & Runon April 29

Panera Bread has raised more than $500,000 for Rhode Island Non-profit

Howley Bread Group (HBG), a franchisee of Panera Bread, is pleased to kick-off its annual fundraising campaign for Children’s Friend, a non-profit that is dedicated to protecting vulnerable children in Rhode Island. Beginning April 9, cafes in 12 Rhode Island and Massachusetts locations will begin raising funds for this worthy cause, providing colorful wristbands when customers choose to donate.

Customers will have the option to donate $1 or more to the organization while placing their order. Those who choose to donate will receive a special Children’s Friend bracelet. HBG has been the presenting sponsor of the annual Children’s Friend 5K Walk & Run since its inception and has raised more than $500,000 for Children’s Friend. HBG raises money through in-café donations as well as through the 5K Walk & Run by providing teams from multiple cafés to participate in the event. “This is one of our favorite events of the year,” said Wendy Kopp, Director of Marketing, Howley Bread Group. “We have more than 50 employees who participate in this worthy cause and we have a great spirit of competition that takes place between cafés!”

The event, which takes place on Saturday, April 29^th at 9:00 a.m., features a walk or timed 5K run, live performances, arts and crafts, free breakfast and lunch courtesy of Panera Bread, and all kinds of fun for children and adults. The event is free for walkers and there is a $30 registration fee for runners participating in the 5K. Dogs are welcome in accordance with Roger Williams Park policies. For more information and to make a donation please visit childrensfriend.kintera.org.

 “We could not be more excited to continue our partnership with Panera Bread on this event for a 15^th year,” said Stacy Couto, Vice President External Affairs for Children’s Friend. “This is one of our largest annual fundraisers, and certainly one of the most enjoyable as friends and family come together to walk for a great cause.”

 

About Howley Bread Group:

Howley Bread Group, LTD of Lincoln, Rhode Island, a franchisee of Panera Bread, owns and operates 29 Panera Bread bakery-cafes in Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and Eastern Connecticut. Panera/Howley Bread Group’s cafes donated more than $5,700,000 a year in food and funds to a variety of community charities including: Autism Speaks, Backus Hospital Cancer Center, Gloria Gemma Breast Resource Foundation, The Bridge Family Center in West Hartford with Community Donation boxes on café counters also supporting Children’s Friend, Providence, RI; Ryan’s Hope for a Cure Charitable Foundation, Plainville, MA; Connecticut Sports Foundation Against Cancer; Foodshare, Bloomfield, CT.

Additionally, gift card and food donations are made to local non-profit organizations through Panera/Howley Bread Group’s donations department and End-of-Day baked goods are donated to more than 80 churches and shelters across the franchisee’s bakery-cafe network.

For more information and to find out more about new and returning menu items, community involvement and events, employment opportunities, Panera culture, and much more, please visit www.panerabreadhbg.com, ‘like’ HBG on Facebook at /howleybreadgroup, and follow us on Twitter @panerabreadhbg.

 

About Children’s Friend:

Children’s Friend is the innovative leader in improving the well-being and healthy development of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable young children. It accomplishes this by providing flexible, effective, and culturally-relevant services, and advocating for programs and policies that support and strengthen these children and their families.

A non-profit organization founded in 1834, Children’s Friend is a leading provider of child welfare, family support, mental health, and youth development services. We believe that providing comprehensive and effective services to vulnerable young children is not only a moral obligation, but also a prudent financial investment for society to make.

The agency’s programs range from Adoption, Foster Care, Birth Parent Counseling, Child Care, and Adoption Support and Permanency to WIC, Early Head Start, Head Start, Early Intervention, Family Counseling and Project Connect.

Across Rhode Island, its staff provides services to help over 38,000 individuals annually.

For more information, visit childrensfriendri.org