This year’s inductee into Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Donor Hall of Fame is Panera Bread. Recently named the healthiest restaurant in the fast food restaurant category in the country by Health magazine, Panera Bread was praised for offering customers healthy choices. Panera has taken this dedication to healthy lifestyles and brings it towards their commitment to feed hungry people. This commitment truly makes our communities healthier.

Panera Bread, through its local franchisee, Chicago Bread, has donated significant funds to the Food Bank through their Operation Dough-Nation program, which includes customer support with company matching monies. Through this program more than $275,000 has been donated to NIFB over the years that has helped to feed hungry neighbors throughout northern Illinois. In addition to this generous donation, Panera Bread participates in activities such as NIFB’s Holiday Meal Box Program, in which they have donated lunch for hundreds of volunteers and staff for the last six years at all of the Food Bank’s Branch locations.

Panera Bread continues to support Northern Illinois Food Bank’s mission of providing Food Assistance to hungry neighbors by supporting a variety of NIFB special events and activities. In addition to donating wholesome, delicious foods for special events, Panera Bread initiated its own Cereal Drive to Fight Hunger, and supported activities such as Dine Out to Fight Hunger, Hunger Action Month, and the NIFB Hunger Scramble Golf Outing. Panera Bread has been represented on the Food Bank’s board of directors for many years and Panera's enthusiastic employees have also contributed volunteer hours at the Food Bank.

Panera Bread is actively making a difference in the communities where its more than 1,200 bakery-cafés are located. Through its partnership with Northern Illinois Food Bank, Panera has been helping the hungry since 2002. At the close of each day, Panera Bread bakery-cafés donate bread and baked goods to community organizations such as NIFB’s member food pantries who are in need. The variety of ways Panera Bread and its employees make a difference continue to grow year after year.

Congratulations and thank you, Panera Bread!