Boston Bread and PR Restaurants Contribute Over $27,000 To the Boston Foundation s Haiti Relief Effort

NEWTON, Mass.-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- New England based Panera Bread franchisees, Boston Bread, LLC, and PR Restaurants, LLC today announced they will jointly contribute $27,102 to The Haiti Relief and Reconstruction Fund at the Boston Foundation. Contributions to the Boston Foundation’s Haiti relief effort are matched dollar for dollar up to $1 million by the Ansara Family Fund. With the match, that brings the total donation to $54,204.

“The true spirit of our business is breaking bread – a tradition of sharing across backgrounds and borders,” says Mitchell Roberts and David Peterman, Co-owner of PR Restaurants. “We believe this spirit is integral to helping the people of Haiti rebuild, and we are thrilled to be joined in our donation efforts by Boston Bread and the Ansara Family Fund at the Boston Foundation.”

Panera Bread began collecting donations nationally among its many corporate and franchise bakery-cafés in the weeks following the earthquake in Haiti. During this time, Panera encouraged its communities to add a $1 or more to their check to benefit Haitian Relief. By February 3, nearly $150,000 had been collected across participating company owned and franchise bakery-cafes. Each franchise was then allowed to select a recipient relief organization of its choice.

“Donating to The Haiti Relief and Reconstruction Fund at the Boston Foundation allows Boston Bread to put the donations of its customers directly to work for those in need in Haiti” says Mike Hamra, President of Boston Bread. “The Ansara Family is helping provide relief on the ground in Haiti, as well as fundraising here in Boston – and the matching of the funds raised at our bakery-cafes allows our Panera communities to make a significantly larger impact for the people in Haiti.”

Partnering with the Boston Foundation, the Ansara Family Fund created The Haiti Relief and Reconstruction Fund at the Boston Foundation, which focuses on longer-term human rights and reconstruction issues in Haiti. The Haiti Fund, which will be spent over the course of five years, will devote up to 25 percent of its resources to immediate disaster relief. Remaining funds will be dedicated to long term efforts including: human rights training and organizing, long-term reconstruction (all elements of infrastructure from housing to medical care to education), long-term livelihoods (with emphasis on grassroots approaches and possibly microfinance) and support for the Haitian American community in Boston as it copes with grief and economic impact of the disaster.

For more information regarding The Haiti Relief and Reconstruction Fund at the Boston Foundation, please contact Laura McConaghy at (617) 338-2659 or laura.mcconaghy@tbf.org.

For more information on Panera Bread or to make a donation, please contact Jamie Giller at Ebben Zall Group by phone (781) 449-3244, or e-mail Jamie@ebbenzallgroup.com.

About Panera Bread

Panera Bread Company owns and franchises 1,380 bakery-cafes as of December 29, 2009 under the Panera Bread?, Saint Louis Bread Co.?, and Paradise Bakery & Café? names. With its identity rooted in handcrafted, fresh-baked, artisan bread, Panera Bread is committed to providing great tasting, quality food that people can trust. Highlighted by antibiotic free chicken, whole grain bread, select organic and all-natural ingredients and a menu with zero grams artificial trans fat per serving, Panera's bakery-cafe selection offers flavorful, wholesome offerings. The menu includes a wide variety of year-round favorites, complemented by new items introduced seasonally with the goal of creating new standards in everyday food choices. In neighborhoods across the United States and in Canada, guests are enjoying Panera's warm and welcoming environment featuring comfortable gathering areas, relaxing decor, and free internet access provided through a managed WiFi network. At the close of each day, Panera Bread bakery-cafes donate bread and baked goods to community organizations in need. Additional information is available on the Company’s website, http://www.panerabread.com..

About PR Restaurants

Mitchell Roberts and David Peterman are partners in PR Restaurants, LLC, which operates 29 franchise Panera Bread locations in Massachusetts (Beverly, Chelmsford, Framingham, Leominster, North Andover, East Longmeadow, Shrewsbury, Woburn, Marlborough, Hadley, West Springfield, Chicopee, Westborough, Pittsfield, Natick and Worcester), New Hampshire (Bedford, Concord, Dover, Keene, Manchester, Nashua, North Nashua, Portsmouth, and West Lebanon), and Maine (South Portland, Augusta, Westbrook, and Biddeford). For more information on PR Restaurants, contact Jamie Giller of EZG at (781) 449-3244.

About Boston Bread

Boston Bread, LLC, is a franchise owned and operated by Hamra Enterprises, operators of 16 Panera Bread bakery-cafés in the Greater Boston area. Boston Bread is committed to Panera Bread's focus on providing customers and employees with high quality sweet and savory products and engaging each of its café neighborhoods through community service, fundraising, and other philanthropic activities. Boston Bread's locations include: Boston, Burlington, Danvers, Dedham, Everett, Franklin, Hanover, Hingham, Hyannis, Needham, Quincy, Plymouth, Saugus, Stoughton, Waltham and Watertown. Contact us with questions at: Boston Bread, 125 Walnut Street, Suite A, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472, telephone: 617-669-7181, fax: 617-924-0026, emontibello@bostonbread.com, www.panera-boston.com.

Ebben Zall Group

Jamie Giller, 781-449-3244

jamie@ebbenzallgroup.com