Paying It Forward Takes on a Whole New Meaning

Panera Celebrates Random Acts of Kindness Week With New "Panera It Forward" Campaign

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Jan 25, 2010, 05:00 ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Random Acts of Kindness Week, Breads of the World, the local franchisee for Panera Bread in central and southwestern Ohio, will encourage customers to pay it forward with their new campaign, "Panera It Forward." From February 15-21, in all Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio area bakery-cafes, Panera Bread will be giving coupon offers for free menu items in hopes of spreading goodwill throughout the community and encouraging others to use their coupons to "Panera It Forward" to friends, family, co-workers, or even strangers.

Throughout the week, more than one hundred Secret Good Will Ambassadors will hand out "Panera It Forward" coupons with offers ranging from a free Asiago Bagel Breakfast Sandwich to a cup of coffee. With each order, customers will be handed a flyer with suggestions of various random acts of kindness to help them "Panera It Forward" in their communities. Attached to each flyer will be two offers, one for you and one for a friend, as a way to encourage consumers to pay it forward and spread the feeling of community during Random Acts of Kindness Week.

"We're looking forward to spreading random acts of kindness into the surrounding community," said Jeff Rains, President, Breads of the World. "We hope that 'Panera It Forward' will encourage others to help those in their communities, regardless of how small the act is. In the long run, it has the potential to have a big impact on someone's day and even their life."

For more information on "Panera it Forward," visit www.Panera-ohio.com where you can view our "Panera It Forward" blog and share your personal story or random act of kindness. You can also find out more ways to spread random acts of kindness in your community as well as your local central and southwestern Ohio bakery-cafe locations by going to www.Panera-ohio.com.

Breads of the World, LLC, Panera Bread's local franchise, operates 48 bakery-cafes in the Columbus, Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Dayton–metro areas. With its identity rooted in handcrafted, fresh- baked, artisan bread, Panera Bread is committed to providing great tasting, quality food that people can trust. At the close of each day, Panera Bread bakery-cafes donate bread and baked goods to community organizations serving those in need. For more information on the franchise, including bakery-cafe locations, visit www.Panera-ohio.com.

SOURCE Panera Bread