Panera Joins Komen Race With Pink Ribbon Bagels

Amanda and Shelley Pearlberg pose outside a Panera Bread bakery café. On the morning of the Komen New York City Race for the Cure, walkers and runners will enjoy coffee and ribbon-shaped bagels before heading to the Race. During October, Panera's Pink Ribbon Bagel campaign will help support the ongoing efforts of Komen NYC.

Panera Bread at 38-01 35th Ave. in Long Island City is putting a mouth-watering twist on fundraising for breast cancer research. From Panera Bread's opening day, October 8, through the end of the October, National Breast Cancer Awareness month, 25 cents for every Panera Pink Ribbon Bagel purchased will be donated to help support the outstanding efforts of The Greater New York Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The pink ribbon is a long-standing symbol for the united support of breast cancer research; now, Panera has created its Pink Ribbon bagels to help raise funds for this important cause here in Long Island City. Baked fresh each day, Panera Bread Pink Ribbon Bagels feature bits of real Bing cherries, healthy cranberries and a sweet brownsugar coating.

Panera will shape bagels into ribbons of hope for walkers and runners headed to the Komen New York City Race for the Cure. During October, Panera's Pink Ribbon Bagel campaign will help support the ongoing efforts of Komen NYC.

"Panera Bread is committed to serving the members of the local community, many of whom have had their lives touched by breast cancer," Greg George, Panera director of operations, said. "We are honored to support the Greater New York Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure which earmarks donations for breast cancer research, awareness, education and quality of life assistance."

Pink Ribbon bagels are available at Panera Bread bakery-cafes in Long Island City, Staten Island and Long Island through the end of October. The Long Island City bakery-cafe is located on 35th Avenue between 38th St and Steinway, across from P.C. Richard.

In a recent Zagat public opinion survey of fast-casual restaurants, Panera Bread was rated No. 1 in food, facilities and popularity. On October 8, Panera Bread will open its first bakery cafe in Queens at 35th Avenue between Steinway and 38th Streets in Long Island City. Hiring for the bakery-cafe is currently underway on site.

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 free of man-made trans fat, Panera's bakery cafe selections are flavorful and wholesome. The menu includes a wide variety of year-round favorites to complement new items introduced seasonally with the goal of creating new standards in everyday food choices.

"Guests enjoy Panera's warm and welcoming environment featuring comfortable gathering areas, relaxing decor and free WiFiInternet access," George said.

Panera Bread will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering breakfast soufflés, hand-tossed salads, signature sandwiches, hearty soups served in bread bowls, a variety of artisan breads and other specialty breads, along with bagels, pastries, baked goods and hot and cold espresso beverages. Expert bakers make the artisan rustic loaves from flour, water, salt and a natural leavening Panera developed. Slowly aged and carefully baked on a stone hearth, beautiful artisan breads add depth of character to all Panera sandwiches, soups and salads. At the close of every day, Panera donates its bread and baked goods to City Harvest as its way of helping the local community.

Panera Bread has 15 bakery-cafes on Long Island, one in Staten Island and more than 1,000 nationwide. Local expansion is expected to continue with more bakery-cafes opening in Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Long Island over the next several years.

Panera Bread serves fresh baked, handcrafted artisan breads, sweet and savory baked goods, hand-tossed salads, wholesome soups and signature sandwiches in a distinctly warm and welcoming environment. Panera Bread is committed to using only the highest quality, fresh ingredients in the food offered and making a lasting contribution to the neighborhoods in which customers and employees live and work through programs such as Operation Dough-Nation. Headquartered in Richmond Heights, Missouri, Panera Bread operated 1,101 bakery-cafes (430 company-owned and 671 franchised) as of Mar. 27, 2007. For more information, visit www.panerabread.com.

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Greater New York City Affiliate was founded in 1990 and has raised more than $34 million. The organization is unique, disbursing up to 75 percent of its net income to local programs in the five boroughs of New York City, on Long Island and in Westchester and Rockland Counties. In 2007, Komen Greater NYC is awarding close to $3.2 million in grants: $2 million will support 34 community-based organizations that provide breast health programs to underserved women; $200,000 will increase capacity of local researchers to enroll women in breast cancer trials; $45,000 will help fund local breast cancer and education programs, and close to $1 million will go for research. For more information, visit: www.komennyc.org