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Panera Bread Opens their Heart this Valentine Season

February 1^st through 14^th participating Panera Bread bakery-cafes will donate
100 percent of every Valentine cookie sold to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation

Tampa, FL (February 1, 2013) - This week, Panera Bread kicks off a special Valentine cookie promotion benefitting St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital’s Heart Center in 26 bakery-cafes throughout the Tampa Bay area. From February 1-14, participating Tampa-area Panera Bread bakery-cafes will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from every heart-shaped Valentine cookie purchased to the Heart Center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.

In addition, all contributions donated into Panera Bread’s Operation Dough-Nation bread boxes in the 27 participating cafes throughout February will also go to the Heart Center, and the funds raised will be matched by Panera Bread.

“We are grateful to be chosen as the recipient of such heartfelt generosity from Panera Bread and its customers,” said Kimberly Guy, chief operating officer of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. “As a regional referral center for pediatric heart surgery and the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, your support will make a difference in the lives of critically ill children in the Tampa Bay area and beyond.”

To wrap up the Valentine cookie promotion, Panera Bread will host a cookie decorating party for hospitalized kids at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and their families. During the special event, the young patients will decorate Valentine cookies with frosting, sprinkles and candies.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital” said Vikki Kaiser, director of marketing and public relations for Panera Bread. “Together, with the help of our generous customers, we can open our hearts and help raise money for this worthy cause.”