Dan Marino Foundation and Panera Bread Celebrate Autism Awareness Through the Pieces of Hope Campaign

PITTSBURGH, PA--(Marketwired - Apr 9, 2015) - The Dan Marino Foundation and Panera Bread have once again partnered to celebrate Autism Awareness Month. The Pieces of Hope shortbread Puzzle Piece cookie campaign will be hosted at 31 Pittsburgh, PA Panera Bread Cafés.

Panera Bread will feature an exclusive Puzzle Piece shortbread cookie that will only be available in cafés from April 13^th - April 19^th, 2015. These one-of-a kind cookies will be sold individually, half dozen or whole dozen. Proceeds from each cookie will benefit The Dan Marino Foundation and Wesley Spectrum.

"It's great to be partnering with Panera Bread Company in both my home towns -- Pittsburgh and South Florida. It's a win-win: the cookies are the best and the money raised makes a true impact in the lives of people with autism," said Dan Marino, Chairman of The Dan Marino Foundation.

Over the last three years, with the support of the community, Panera Bread Pittsburgh cafés have raised over $110,000 for autism and other developmental disabilities.

"Panera's partnership with The Dan Marino Foundation and Wesley Spectrum will help change lives for people with Autism and other developmental disorders," said Sam Covelli, Owner Operator, Covelli Enterprises/Panera Bread. "We are very excited about being able to raise awareness and make a difference in the Pittsburgh community through this campaign."

"Cookies can make a difference; every single one represents a big difference in the life of a child with autism and their family. We are so grateful to the Dan Marino Foundation and to Panera Bread for their dedicated service to our community," said Doug Muetzel, CEO of Wesley Spectrum.

COVELLI ENTERPRISES AND PANERA BREAD:
Covelli Enterprises operates more than 250 bakery-cafés in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida and Ontario, Canada. Covelli Enterprises is the nation's largest franchisee of Panera, LLC. 

THE DAN MARINO FOUNDATION:
The Dan Marino Foundation, Inc., a 501(c) 3 organization was established in 1992 by Dan and Claire Marino, motivated by their experiences in raising their son, Michael, who is diagnosed with autism. The Foundation's mission is "empowering individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities." For over 23 years, the Foundation has served individuals with disabilities in South Florida and raised more than $50 million to create unique and impactful initiatives in the community. Among these "first-of-their-kind" initiatives are the Miami Children's Hospital Dan Marino Center, Childnett.tv, the Marino Autism Research Institute, Marino Adapted Aquatics, Summer STEPS Employment Programs, and now Marino Campus. For more information, please visit danmarinofoundation.org.