Panera Bread's Valentine Cookie Campaign Benefitting St. Joseph's Children's Hospital

Tampa, FL (Feb.1, 2017) - Panera Bread will kick off a special Valentine cookie promotion benefitting St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital’s Heart Institute in 30 bakery-cafes throughout the Tampa Bay area. From February 1-14, participating Tampa-area Panera Bread bakery-cafes owned by Covelli Family Limited Partnership will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from every heart-shaped Valentine cookie purchased to the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. In the past six years, Panera Bread has raised $144,982.62 from this campaign.

In addition, all contributions donated into Panera Bread’s Operation Dough-Nation Community Bread Boxes in the 30 participating cafes throughout February also will go to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. The freshly baked all-butter shortbread cookie is shaped like a heart and decorated for Valentine’s Day with festive designs.

“We are grateful to be chosen as the recipient of such heartfelt generosity from Panera Bread and its customers,” said St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital President Kimberly Guy. “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 heart shaped cookies with frosting, sprinkles and candies and enjoy making Valentine crafts.

“We are thrilled that this will be our 7^th year partnering with St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital,” said Vikki Kaiser, director of marketing and public relations for Panera Bread. “We are fortunate to have such a dynamic hospital in our backyard whose mission is to provide the community with quality, compassionate healthcare. Together, with the help of our generous customers, we can open our hearts and raise needed money for the pediatric patients in our community.”

Find a participating Panera Bread neighborhood bakery-café at http://www.panera-tampa.com.