Panera Bread Launches Pink Ribbon Month

WARREN, Ohio – Covelli Enterprises today will donate 100% of all Pink Ribbon Bagel sales at participating Mahoning Valley Panera Bread bakery-cafés in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Then throughout October, a portion of the Pink Ribbon Bagels’ sales will be donated to the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.

Last year, the Pink Ribbon Bagel 100% Day resulted in a one-day total of more than 13,000 bagels sold.

The Pink Ribbon Bagel, shaped in the form of the iconic pink ribbon symbolizing breast cancer awareness, features cherry chips, dried cherries and cranberries, vanilla, honey, and brown sugar.

One of Panera Bread’s first franchisees, a breast cancer survivor, developed the Pink Ribbon Bagel in 2001 as a way to help support breast cancer research.

Pre-orders for the bagels are being accepted here. Funds also are being collected this month at the Covelli Cares Community Breadbox canisters next to cash registers.

Since the program’s inception, Covelli Enterprises has raised nearly $6 million to support breast cancer programs in the communities it serves. Locally, the company has donated more than $225,000 to Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center through the campaign. The center also receives funds from the Panerathon, which over the past nine years has raised $2.5 million. 

“There’s no better feeling than knowing our restaurants, our people, and our products are making a difference in the lives of others,” said Sam Covelli, owner/operator of Covelli Enterprises. “The Pink Ribbon Bagel campaign is one way we are continuing the promise to give back to those who need it most within the communities we serve. Over the years we’ve been able to make real, life-saving impacts with the dollars raised from these bagels. We are very proud of that.”

This year, funds raised through the Pink Ribbon Bagel sales will be matched by Youngstown State University’s Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. The funds from both the bakery-cafe sales and the ZTA match will be presented Oct. 21 at the 18^thannual Pink Ribbon Cheer Classic at YSU.

Panera Bread is encouraging customers to take a photo with their Pink Ribbon Bagels to share their support for the cause on social media using #morethandough.