Hillary Rutter, the director of the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program, today announced that her program will be a recipient in the 11th annual Panera Bread 2012 Pink Ribbon Bagels campaign.
The Pink Ribbon Bagel campaign, to date, has raised more than $100,000 to benefit Long Island breast cancer organizations. In addition to the Adelphi Breast Cancer Program, Pink Ribbon Campaign funds will be donated to Prevention Is the Cure and the Breast Cancer Research Program at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Panera Bread, in partnership with WALK 97.5 who is getting the word out, will donate 25 cents for every Pink Ribbon Bagel sold in its 22 Long Island bakery-cafes, including the North Babylon location.
“The initiative continues to grow each year,” says Greg George, Vice President of Operations for Doherty Enterprises, Inc., franchisee for Panera Bread. “WALK 97.5 makes a big push in the fall to educate and inform listeners about breast cancer prevention, screening and treatment.” He adds, “WALK Radio brings awareness and Panera brings the funds to help sustain critical groups here on Long Island.”
To give the fundraising a healthy head start, Panera is kicking off its campaign with Power of Pink Day on Monday, Oct. 1, more than quadrupling its donation by contributing 100 percent from each bagel sold to the fund.
George urges businesses, organizations and individuals to call their local Panera bakery now to reserve Pink Ribbon Bagels for Oct. 1. According to George, every Pink Ribbon Bagel or baker’s dozen of 13 Pink Ribbon Bagels sold that day or preordered for pickup on Oct. 1 will provide a 100 percent donation to the designated breast cancer organizations. On Power of Pink Day, Panera will contribute $1.25 for each bagel, $9.99 for each baker’s dozen.
For those who have yet to taste a Pink Ribbon Bagel, it’s a Cherry Vanilla Bagel--a brown-sugar sweetened, wholesome cranberry-cherry chip bagel—that is shaped into iconic “pink ribbons” as a symbol of hope in support of local breast cancer help organizations.
WALK 97.5’s Linda Healy, herself a breast cancer survivor, spearheads the radio station’s breast cancer advocacy efforts and reminds us that POWER OF PINK DAY provides the perfect excuse to plan a bagel party at work or with friends on October 1st.
Throughout the remainder of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, each Long Island bakery-cafe will continue to contribute by donating 25 cents from every Pink Ribbon Bagel sold as well as $1.00 from each and every Power of Pink Baker’s Dozen--any assortment of 13 bagels—that is sold that month.
Last year, in partnership with WALK 97.5, Panera Bread’s Pink Ribbon Bagel campaign raised more than $26,000 over the course of the month-long campaign, including $10,000 on kick-off day. This year, the Long Island Panera Bread bakery-cafes are hoping to do even better—and they are counting on individuals and groups to make that happen.
Anyone who is worried about breast cancer should call the Adelphi Breast Cancer Hotline for help at 800-877-8077. You are not alone.
