Contact: Spencer Gossy

Regan Communications Group

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Plainville Panera Bread Customers Raise $7,844 for Ryan’s Hope Foundation
Funds raised using its Community Breadbox Canisters

Plainville, MA – June XX, 2019 – As part of its Community Breadbox program, the Panera Bread bakery-
café in Plainville, a member of the Howley Bread Group franchise, recently donated $7,844 collected
from its customers to Ryan’s Hope Foundation, a Plainville-based non-profit organization whose purpose
is to educate the community about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

Since January 2017, customers and employees of the Plainville Panera Bread bakery-café were invited to
donate to a Community Breadbox donation canister to help support the mission of Ryan’s Hope
Foundation.

“Philanthropic businesses like Howley Bread Group provide hope to those who need it most,” said Linda
Hastings, Co-Founder of Ryan’s Hope Foundation. “Without the support of community partners like Panera
Bread, our mission wouldn’t be possible, and for that, we are incredibly grateful.”

Ryan’s Hope Foundation was founded in 2003 by Plainville residents Scott and Linda Hastings for their son, Ryan,
who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) at age two. The mission of the Ryan’s Hope
Foundation is to increase awareness of DMD with the purpose of raising funds for advancing research and
enriching the lives of children with neuromuscular disease to ensure they have a brighter tomorrow.

“In every Panera Bread in our territory we are always trying hard to connect with our community and give back,”
said Bahjat Shariff, Operating Partner, Howley Bread Group. “We thank our customers and associates for
donating.”

Photo Caption (from left to right):

Nikki Haggerty, Assistant Manager, Panera Bread Plainville; Catelin Stewart, General Manager, Panera Bread
Plainville; Linda Hastings, Co-Founder, Ryan’s Hope Foundation; Abby Bora, Marketing Manager, Howley Bread
Group.

About Howley Bread Group:

Howley Bread Group, LTD of Lincoln, Rhode Island, a franchisee of Panera Bread, owns and operates 28
Panera Bread bakery-cafes in Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and Eastern Connecticut. Howley
Bread Group's cafes donate food and funds to a variety of community charities including: Autism
Speaks, Gloria Gemma Breast Resource Foundation, Children's Friend, Ryan's Hope for a Cure Charitable
Foundation, Connecticut Cancer Foundation, Foodshare, and Mercy Meals and More. Additionally, gift card
and food donations are made to local non-profit organizations through Panera/Howley Bread Group's
donations department and Day-End Dough-Nations are donated to more than 50 churches and shelters across
the franchisee’s bakery-cafe network.

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For more information and to find out more about new and returning menu items, community involvement
and events, employment opportunities, Panera culture, and much more, please visit
www.panerabreadhbg.com, and follow HBG on Facebook at @howleybreadgroup and Instagram
@panerabreadhbg.

About Ryan’s Hope:

The Ryan's Hope Foundation (Ryan's Hope for a Cure Charitable Foundation, Inc.) was founded in 2003
by Scott and Linda Hastings of Plainville, MA, when their two-year-old son Ryan was diagnosed with
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a lethal genetic disorder.

The Hastings family established the Foundation in order to raise funds for advancing the research for a cure for
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The Foundation's goal is to develop, organize, and direct the energies of
volunteers and friends to promote fund-raising activities, while serving as a resource of information and support
for parents of children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The Foundation also seeks to promote Duchenne
Muscular Dystrophy education and awareness, while aligning its efforts with those of other organizations
striving to find a cure for DMD.

The Ryan's Hope Foundation is entirely staffed by volunteers. There are no paid employees. Family and friends
wanting to make a difference work tirelessly to raise money that goes exclusively to research that will help to
realize a cure for this deadly disease.

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