Yale-New Haven Hospital

Panera Bread donates nearly $35,000 to Yale-New Haven Hospital

Yale-New Haven Hospital news release
Release date: April 1, 2009
Media contact: (203) 688-2488

Tom Kelleher (second from left), Panera Bread Joint Venture Partner for Western Connecticut, presents YNHH a check for $34,437.78 raised through its Operation Dough-Nation® program. Pictured with him from left, are: Sheryl McGoldrick, Panera Bakery manager; Marna P. Borgstrom, YNHH President and CEO; and Tina Lemelin, Panera Bread marketing manager for Western Connecticut.

NEW HAVEN — Panera Bread recently donated nearly $35,000 to Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH) through its Operation Dough-Nation® program at area bakery-cafes in 2008. Operation Dough-Nation® accepts cash donations from customers throughout the year at collection boxes in all bakery-cafes. Customer donations then receive a percentage match from Panera Bread. This is the first year that Yale-New Haven Hospital has partnered with Panera for Operation Dough-Nation.®

Panera also donated another $2,000 through in-kind donations to YNHH in 2008, as well as $1,518 to the Yale-New Haven Breast Health Center from sales of the Pink Ribbon BagelT last October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

"We are pleased to have Yale-New Haven Hospital for our Operation Dough-Nation partner," said Tom Kelleher, Panera Bread Joint Venture Partner for the Western CT area. "We pride ourselves on being a true neighborhood bakery-café - one that partners with the communities we serve. Through relationships such as this, we are able to truly make a difference."

The Western Connecticut Panera bakery-cafes are located in Meriden, North Haven, Hamden, Milford, Shelton, Waterbury, Newtown, Brookfield, Darien, Norwalk and Torrington.

Panera Bread Company owns and franchises 1,252 bakery-cafes under the Panera Bread® and Saint Louis Bread Co. ® names as of December 30, 2008. 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 added trans fat, 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 country, 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 Company's website, www.panerabread.com.

Yale-New Haven Hospital is a 944-bed, not-for-profit hospital serving as the primary teaching hospital for the Yale School of Medicine. Yale-New Haven was founded as the fourth voluntary hospital in the U.S. in 1826 and today, the hospital complex includes Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital and Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital, with a combined medical staff of about 3,400 university and community physicians practicing in more than 100 specialties.