For Immediate Release
October 10, 2007
Contact: Donna Sellmann
732-530-2282
dsellmann@meridianhealth.com

PINK RIBBON BAGLES HELP TO SUPPORT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

Riverview Medical Center partners with local Panera Bread locations to boost awareness, raise funds for Women's Center.

Red Bank, NJ - The color pink has become widely identified with the fight against breast cancer, adorning everything from ribbons to T-shirts and buildings. Now there's a new twist in the fight against breast cancer, and it's in the form of a pink bagel!

Throughout the month of October, Panera Bread will add bagels to the list when 5 bakery cafes in Monmouth County offer special Pink Ribbon Bagels as part of a partnership with Riverview Medical Center. For every Pink Ribbon Bagel sold at a bakery cafe, Panera will donate 25 cents to Riverview in an effort to aid its fight against breast cancer.

"Panera Bread is honored to join with the Riverview Medical Center in fighting breast cancer," said Paul Cherwien, operations partner for Panera Bread. "We are committed to being there for the members of our communities, especially those who unfortunately have been impacted in some way by breast cancer."

"Sometimes it takes a creative twist on a longstanding topic to draw new attention," says Kim Pheifer, nurse manager of Riverview's Women's Center. "We truly appreciate Panera's imagination and dedication to this critical health topic."

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women. In fact, one in eight women are at risk to develop breast cancer. Fortunately, death rates from breast cancer continue to decline. It is believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment. Funds raised by Panera's Pink Ribbon Bagle sales will benefit services offered through Riverview's Women's Center.

The limited-time-only Pink Ribbon Bagels are baked fresh each day at Panera locations in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The bagels, in the shape of a pink ribbon, are made with cherry chips, dried cherries and cranberries, vanilla honey and brown sugar.

Participating Monmouth County Panera Bread locations are:

Freehold, 531 Solomon Way, Mount?s Corner
Howell, 4715 Route 9 North
Middletown, 776 Route 35
Ocean, 1100 Route 35
Shrewsbury, 1050 Broad St.

American Bread Co. of Trevose, a franchisee of Panera Bread, operates the 5 Monmouth County bakery cafes.

About the Riverview Medical Center
Riverview Medical Center, a member of the Meridian Health Family, is a non-profit community hospital located in Red Bank, New Jersey, providing health care programs and services in all major medical disciplines, including maternity; oncology; orthopedics and rehabilitation; general, neuro, thoracic and vascular surgery; cardiology; renal dialysis; diabetes management; and emergency and critical care services. Riverview's Booker Cancer Center is an affiliate of the renowned Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, and Riverview is home to the only fully accredited acute comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation center in Monmouth County. In addition, its Women Center and Childbirth Center specialize in the full spectrum of needs for the body, mind and spirit. For more information about Riverview Medical Center and Meridian Health, please call the Meridian Health Line at 1-800-560-9990 or visit www.riverviewmedicalcenter.com.

About Panera Bread
Panera Bread serves fresh baked, handcrafted artisan breads, sweet and savory baked goods, hand-tossed salads, wholesome soups, and signature sandwiches in a distinctly warm and welcoming environment. Panera Bread is committed to using only the highest quality, fresh ingredients in the food we offer and making a lasting contribution to the neighborhoods in which our customers and employees live and work through programs like Operation Dough-Nation. Headquartered in Richmond Heights, MO, Panera Bread operates 1,101 bakery-cafes (430 company-owned and 671 franchised) as of March 27, 2007. For more information, visit www.panerabread.com.

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