Panera Bread’s Yorktown Heights Cafe Donates Bagels and Cookies to Community Charity Event

Panera Bread's Yorktown Heights cafe, which donated to the first annual Dogs In Danger walkathon held on Saturday, June 12th at FDR Park in Yorktown, NY, released a public statement about its donation.

Brenda Bush, co-founder of Dogs In Danger, reached out to Panera Bread about a possible donation, and Panera Bread responded with 500 bagels and cookies for the walkers.

"Panera Bread's bagels were amazing and they were a tremendous partner," said Alex Aliksanyani, president and co-founder of Dogs In Danger. "Their hearts are certainly in the right place."

"The event was a huge success and helped to raise over $25,000 which will go toward saving dogs that are in danger of being put down at kill shelters across the country," the press release read. "The weather didn't exactly cooperate as hoped, but dog-lovers turned out in droves to help raise much needed money and awareness for this great cause."

Dogs In Danger is based in White Plains, NY. Its website, DogsInDanger.com, advertises dogs that are in danger of death, and matches them up with adopters. In two and a half years, they have helped save more than 37,000 canines.

The website posts pictures and information of dogs available for adoption, notifies viewers of how much longer before they are euthanized, and it also gives the outcome for each dog that appears on the site.

"We are so pleased to have assisted Dogs In Danger, as they help so many dogs and people across the country and in our local community with their rescue efforts," said Tony Diaz, operations partner of Take Home the Bread, the local franchisee. "We are very glad this year's walkathon was a big success for them."

Next year's walkathon event is scheduled for May 15, 2011, when people can come out and support Dogs In Danger's rescue efforts. 

For further information regarding Dogs In Danger, or to make public donations, please contact Andrea Fields at 914-304-4045.

About Panera Bread:

Panera Bread Company owns and franchises 1,388 bakery-cafes as of March 30, 2010 under the Panera Bread, Saint Louis Bread Co. and Paradise Bakery & Cafe names.

For the past 14 years, Panera Bread has helped many charitable organizations through Operation Dough-Nation, a program that allows Panera Bread and its customers to aid local charities. Cash donations made by customers in the Community Breadbox cash boxes at the registers are distributed annually to local charities. Panera also donates unsold bread to local area hunger relief agencies.

Panera Bread has cafes located throughout Westchester County, including Yorktown Heights, Mohegan Lake, White Plains, Port Chester, and Scarsdale. 

"We feature high quality, reasonably priced food in a warm, inviting, and comfortable environment," Panera Bread Co. said in a statement. "With our identity rooted in handcrafted, fresh-baked, artisan bread, we are committed to providing great tasting, quality food that people can trust."

The franchisee Take Home the Bread, LLC plans to open 22 new bakery-cafes in the area over the next five years, with the newest café opening in Bedford Hills in early August.