ST. LOUIS, October 11, 2022 – Today, the Panera Bread Foundation announces the open application period for the Panera Bread Foundation grant program. The Foundation awards grants to non-profit organizations who provide access to education, opportunity, and mentorship to at-risk, underserved, or historically underrepresented children and youth. Qualified organizations are 501(c)(3) non-profits, serving ages 10-18, that are planning to start a new program or expand an existing program focused on college readiness, skills building, workforce or leadership development, or mentoring. The grant application period is open now through November 14, 2022 and interested organizations can apply on the Panera Bread Foundation’s application website. 

The Panera Bread Foundation envisions a world in which young people can unlock their full potential and dare to dream — a world in which opportunity and economic mobility are accessible and equitable for all. This February, Panera company-owned bakery-cafes launched the Give Change for Children round-up program, which, through the generosity of our guests, has reached more than $1MM to-date to support the Foundation’s mission. Panera guests choose at check out to round-up their total check to the nearest dollar to help children and youth in our local communities. Give Change for Children is available in-cafe at the register, at the drive-thru and kiosk, and through ordering on the Panera Bread website and mobile app. 

“Through our grant program, the Panera Bread Foundation helps fund non-profit organizations who have programs committed to support underserved children and youth by creating the opportunity to allow them to build and dream of their futures,” said Debbie Roberts, Foundation Board President, EVP, Chief Operating Officer at Panera Bread. “In our inaugural year, we were able to award 17 grants, and we’re excited for this number to grow, thanks in part to the generosity of our guests who round up their Panera orders to support the Give Change for Children program.” 

Current 2022 Panera Bread Foundation grant partners are predominately serving high school and middle school students. The programs for high school students help youth stay in and do well in school, graduate high school, attend a post-secondary school or find a long-term career path. The middle school programs are focused on strengthening learning skills, enhancing hard and soft skills, and helping children build healthy relationships with trusted adults through mentorship programs. Other programs serve students by specializing in STEM or STEAM programs. 

Grant applicants will have the choice to apply for a grant amount between $25,000 and $150,000, to be awarded to recipients in early 2023. Non-profit organizations interested in the grant program can learn more and apply here. The grant application will close on Monday, November 14, 2022, at 11:59pm CST. 

For more information on the Panera Bread Foundation, visit the Panera website. To apply for a grant, visit the Panera Bread Foundation’s grant application portal here. 

About Panera Bread

Panera Bread opened in 1987 as a community bakery, founded with a secret sourdough starter and a belief that sharing great bread is an expression of warmth and generosity. That vision holds true today with a robust menu of delicious, chef-curated recipes created with a simple principle: The Familiar, Made FantasticTM. At Panera, we serve food that we are proud to serve our own families, made with responsibly raised proteins and freshly prepared with Clean ingredients--food that does not contain the artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources set forth on our No-No list served in U.S. bakery-cafes. From crave-worthy soups, salads and sandwiches to flatbread pizza and sweets, we offer our guests more than great food. Our ethos of generosity drives us to meet our guests where they are through technology and through our shared values. We are stewards of our communities and the planet — with programs like Day-End Dough-Nation® that donates unsold baked goods in the evening to local non-profits, or labeling climate-friendly low carbon Cool Food Meals. 

As of July 26, 2022, there were 2,116 bakery-cafes, company and franchise, in 48 states and in Ontario, Canada, operating under the Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co.® names. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast casual restaurant companies in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros.® Bagels. For more information, visit panerabread.com or find us on Twitter (@panerabread), Facebook (facebook.com/panerabread) Instagram (@panerabread) or Tik Tok (@panerabread). 

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