Panera Goes Pink Raises $117,000 and Counting for Moffitt
October may signal fall temperatures and pumpkin spice everything, but for the cancer community the month is all about the color pink and breast cancer. Businesses and organizations throughout the country raise money for breast cancer research and mammogram program. One of those companies leading the charge is Panera Bread. Thanks to its annual Panera Goes Pink event, Moffitt has received nearly $117,000 in donations over the last eight years. And you can help make that amount grow by participating in this year’s Panera Goes Pink event on Friday, Oct. 5.
Participating Panera bakery-cafes in the Tampa Bay area will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from each Pink Ribbon Bagel sold to Moffitt. Additionally, all proceeds collected in the Operation Dough-Nation Community Breadboxes™ throughout the month of October will also benefit Moffitt while educating the public about the importance of early detection.
“Early detection of breast cancer and access to routine mammography screening is lifesaving,” said Cathy Grant, senior director of Moffitt Diversity. “Funding from our Panera Goes Pink day partnership enables Moffitt’s outreach team to educate at-risk women throughout the greater Tampa Bay community about the importance of early detection and links uninsured women to no-cost mammograms.”
Pink Ribbon Bagel includes cherry chips, dried cherries, cranberries, vanilla, honey, and brown sugar, and is baked fresh each morning by Panera’s bakers at each bakery-cafe. Place pre-orders for the Panera Goes Pink day at www.paneraflorida.com. Simply click on the link, select your participating bakery-cafe with a pickup time and Panera will have your Pink Ribbon Bagel order ready to go on Oct. 5.
Photo Opportunities/Special Appearances
- 8-10 a.m. Participating Panera Bread locations: Moffitt Cancer Center representatives will be onsite with educational resources.
- 8-10 a.m. Tampa Bay Buccaneers mascot Captain Fear will be at Panera Bread, 3420 W. Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd., Tampa, FL 33607.
- 8-9 a.m. USF mascot Rocky D. Bull and the USF cheerleaders will be at Panera Bread, 11860 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612.
- Open-Close 24 participating Panera Bread bakery-cafes decorated in pink
- Reporters are also invited to assist in making the pink ribbon bagels
Nationwide, over the course of 17 years, Panera has sold over 16 million bagels and donated over $2.6 million to breast cancer organizations across the country.
