The 4
th annual "Bridge Business Award" was presented to Panera
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Bridge executive director, Margaret Hann (l.); Bahjat Shariff, vice president of operations for Panera Bread; Wendy Kopp, marketing director for Panera Bread. |
Bread for its support of the Bridge and its mission. A reception was held in Panera Bread's honor at the main Bridge office in West Hartford on Thursday evening, May 28, 2009. The Bridge Board of Directors and staff welcomed Panera staff and honored Panera's generosity.
The Bridge's partnership with Panera Bread began in October of 2002 when the cafe chose the Bridge as its
Operation Dough-Nation partner in some of its Hartford region stores. Canisters with the Bridge name on them were placed on the counters at these local cafes. When the West Hartford Panera Bread opened in 2006, it chose the Bridge to be its exclusive Operation Dough-Nation partner. Over the years, Panera Bread customers have made donations to the canisters and
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Chris Raymond, general manager of the West Hartford Panera Bread Cafe; Bridge executive director, Margaret Hann. |
Panera Bread has matched a percentage of them. As a result, Panera Bread and its customers have donated over $58,000 to the Bridge.
Beyond this monetary support, Panera Bread willingly donates pastries and bagels for the annual Bridge Breakfast in September which kicks off a new year of collaboration with about 125 school personnel as well as many community leaders. Panera Bread also provides coffee, pastries, and bagels for monthly "View of the Bridge" breakfasts for community members. Since September, the Bridge has hosted 8 "Views" with more than 110 people in attendance.
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