100% OF PANERA BREAD’S ‘PIECES OF HOPE FOR AUTISM’ COOKIES APRIL 8-14 TO BENEFIT SOUTH CAROLINA AUTISM SOCIETY
Covelli Enterprises’ support for autism organizations surpasses $2 million
Covelli Enterprises, the largest franchisee of Panera Bread, is partnering with South Carolina Autism Society during the month of April through the launch of its ‘Pieces of Hope for Autism’ cookie campaign in honor of Autism Awareness month. Monday, April 8 through Sunday, April 14, 100% of the proceeds from all ‘Pieces of Hope’ cookie sales will be donated to the cause. The puzzle piece cookie has been specially designed to represent the symbol for autism and will be sold in all 19 cafes in Columbia, Charleston, Florence, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Bluffton, and Aiken.
To kick off the campaign the Harbison Panera Bread located at 1007 Bower Pkwy Columbia, SC will host a cookie decorating event with local residents that fall on the Autism Spectrum on Saturday April 6th at 2pm.
Since 2010, Covelli Enterprises has donated more than $2 million in the areas it serves to support various autism organizations, schools, and centers in providing services, scholarships, research, treatment, advocacy, and resources for families.
“The ‘Pieces of Hope for Autism’ campaign is our largest company-wide initiative that we host every year. It involves more than 215 participating Panera locations in eight states and the hard work of more than 450 bakers to create these special, life-changing cookies,” said Sam Covelli, Owner/Operator of Covelli Enterprises. “We put everything we have behind this one-week campaign because our cookies have made such a significant difference for our partners and those with autism within the communities we serve.”
Autism Society of South Carolina will also benefit during the whole month of April from the company’s Round Up Program, which allows customers to round up their order total to the next dollar, and cash canisters located at the register.
Panera Bread is encouraging ‘Pieces of Hope’ campaign supporters to share photos of their cookies on social media using #everycookiecounts. Cookies may be pre-ordered online at www.covelli.com/autism.
The puzzle piece cookie is sold only in Covelli-owned and operated Panera Bread cafés each year. The cookie consists of Panera Bread’s famous shortbread topped with sweet white icing and an edible sugar decal and is made completely free of any artificial colors, flavors, additives or preservatives.
About Covelli Enterprises
Covelli Enterprises operates 315 Panera Bread bakery-cafés in eight states. Headquartered in Warren, Ohio, Covelli Enterprises is the single largest franchisee of Panera Bread, LLC. In 2018, Covelli Enterprises donated more than $32 million to hunger relief agencies and non-profit organizations. www.covelli.com