Panera Bread(R) to Kick Off Giving Tree Campaign with a $100,000 Donation to the Children's Cancer Center of Tampa

With the $100,000 donation, Panera Bread will kick off its next Childrens Cancer Center benefit through its Giving Tree campaign. From Thanksgiving through the end of December, 24 Tampa-area Panera Bread bakery-cafes will display Giving Trees filled with wishes from bay-area children who are battling childhood cancer. This year, customers will receive a free gingerbread man cookie for every gift purchased for a child on the tree. In its six-year partnership, Panera Breads Giving Tree program has provided gifts for 400 families.

We chose the Childrens Cancer Center as our community partner because of their passion and commitment to the families of Tampa Bay, said Kevin Ricci, operating partner for Covelli Family Limited Partnership who serves on the board of directors for the center. Our extended family of Panera Bread customers has embraced the Childrens Cancer Center through their generous cash donations to our Community Breadboxes and support of various fundraisers we held throughout the year.

The Childrens Cancer Center is so honored to be the chosen charitable partner of Panera Bread and the Covelli Family Partnership, said Shannon Hannon Oliviero, director of community relations, marketing & fundraising for the Childrens Cancer Center. For over six years their constant support and strong links with our community have enabled us to continue our mission of providing priceless and immediate assistance to families battling childhood cancers and chronic blood disorders.

Covelli Family Limited Partnership has been partnering with the Childrens Cancer Center in Tampa since 2003. For 35 years, the center has been providing immediate support to families of children with cancer, hemophilia, sickle cell disease and other chronic blood disorders. The Center works with children and their families to address their immediate nonmedical needs, which include educational support through various programs.

Panera Bread and its franchisees also support charitable causes through its Operation Dough-Nation program. Since it was founded in 1992 to formalize Paneras commitment to community involvement, Operation Dough-Nation has contributed both monetary and bread donations through its Community Breadbox and Day-End Dough-Nation programs to local food pantries, hunger relief agencies and other community organizations. In 2008, Panera Bread bakery-cafes collectively donated a retail value of more than 50 million dollars worth of bread and baked goods to charitable organizations helping to address the need for food distribution in our local communities.

About Covelli Enterprises and Panera Bread
Covelli Enterprises operates more than 150 bakery-cafes in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Florida. Covelli Enterprises is the nation's largest franchisee of Panera, LLC.

About Panera Bread
Panera Bread Company owns and franchises 1,362 bakery-cafes as of September 29, 2009 under the Panera Bread, Saint Louis Bread Co., and Paradise Bakery & Caf names. With its identity rooted in handcrafted, fresh-baked, artisan bread, Panera Bread is committed to providing great tasting, quality food that people can trust. Highlighted by antibiotic free chicken, whole grain bread, select organic and all-natural ingredients and a menu with zero grams artificial trans fat per serving, Panera's bakery-cafe selection offers flavorful, wholesome offerings. The 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 Canada, guests are enjoying Panera's warm and welcoming environment featuring comfortable gathering areas, relaxing decor, and free internet access provided through a managed WiFi network. At the close of each day, Panera Bread bakery-cafes donate bread and baked goods to community organizations in need. Additional information is available on the Companys website, http://www.panerabread.com.

Contact: Vikki Kaiser
Office: (813) 877-7533
Cellular: (813) 458-9420
vikki.kaiser@covelli.com

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