
There is something for everyone at Panera Bread—including a piece of hope.
Every April, in honor of National Autism Awareness Month, 28 local Panera Bread locations support our Kelly O’Leary Center for Autism by selling Pieces of Hope cookies.
“This is our largest company-wide initiative, and its positive impact means the world to our Covelli family,” says Sam Covelli, owner and operator of local Panera cafes. “We know the autism community has faced many challenges over the past year due to financial burdens, navigating virtual learning and much more. We’re humbled to be able to give back—and we’re proud to partner with Cincinnati Children’s to support the work they do.”
When Panera first opened their doors, they prioritized connecting and supporting local communities, and they continue to embark on this journey today. Through their partnership with the hospital, they’ve raised nearly $100,000 over the last 10 years.
Our local franchises currently collect Community Breadbox donations at registers to raise additional funds for Cincinnati Children’s. A little truly goes a long way, and all proceeds come back to the medical center to improve care for kids.
Panera is more than a restaurant — they are a valuable member of every community they serve. Throughout the years, they’ve supplied food to several divisions across the hospital—providing healthy and balanced meals to our patients and families.
But their support doesn’t stop there. Each year, Panera delivers coupons for our team members to celebrate special occasions such as National Nurses’ Week and our employee donors.
We’re so grateful to Panera Bread for partnering with us as we create a supportive — and sweet — community for our patients, families and employees.