Now before you get all up in arms about the Sun spotlighting a large corporation over a local mom-and-pop shop, read a little further. Ten years ago, Sue Stees was on the hunt for a way to help women fighting breast cancer. She herself was a survivor and co-owner of several Panera Bread franchises. What she came up with was the Pink Ribbon Bagel.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this simple concept—created in my Tulsa bakery-café—would grow to where it is today,” Stees said in a press release.
For the month of October, Panera bakers form the seasonal cherry-vanilla bagels into the familiar looped ribbon shape representing breast cancer awareness. At least 10 cents—more depending on franchise area—from each Pink Ribbon Bagel sale is donated toward fighting breast cancer. This year, in honor of the 10 year anniversary of the event, Panera has upped the ante. On Oct. 10, 100 percent of all the proceeds from Pink Ribbon Bagel sales will be donated toward breast cancer research. According to a Panera press release, more than 7 million Pink Ribbon Bagels have been sold in the last nine years, amounting to more than $1 million donated.The funds raised stay local. Each franchise area gets to decide where it will direct its monies. Our Southern California group has partnered with the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, which has a proactive goal (discovering the causes and ways to prevent breast cancer) rather than a reactive one (researching treatments and cures).
In addition to the Pink Ribbon Bagel sales, Santa Maria’s Panera will take part in Coffee and Conversation event on Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free for the public. Drinks, food, and a small gift will be provided to all attendees.
The Pink Ribbon Bagel event is special to the Panera employees as well. General Manager Deena Mitchell’s family has been greatly affected by breast cancer. Her grandmother had surgery for precancerous signs, and her grandmother’s twin sister and two other sisters suffered from breast cancer.
“I think it’s a really great thing that we’re doing, this whole coffee conversation thing,” said Ashley Perez, a Panera employee who lost her great-grandmother to breast cancer.
The Pink Ribbon Bagels go on sale Oct. 1. They are a sweet, rewarding way to contribute to a good cause.
Highlights
• To recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month, fitness center Curves of Lompoc will be waiving the joining fee for new members who show proof of a mammogram within the past year or make a $25 donation to breast cancer research.
Each Curves center will help women learn the facts about breast cancer and the importance of early detection, encouraging women to work out three times a week to help reduce their risk, and participating in fundraising efforts to support the efforts of the American Cancer Society.
For more information, call Curves of Lompoc at 740-0500.
• Griffin Plumbing will be doing its part to raise awareness of breast cancer by having all its employees wear pink on Mondays and Fridays throughout October.
In addition, Griffin Plumbing will donate $5 to the Marian Cancer Center for each service call.
For more information, call 934-1949 or visit callgriffinplumbing.com on the web.
• For the third time, Hardy Diagnostics, a Santa Maria-based medical device manufacturer serving 7,000 labs across the country, has been included in Inc. Magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest growing private companies in America.
The magazine ranked Hardy Diagnostics 379th in the health-care industry on its “500|5000” list, which sorts companies by revenue growth over a three-year period and recognizes growing businesses responsible for spurring innovation, providing jobs, and driving the economy.
“This award represents the success of everyone in our company to create and sustain growth,” Hardy Diagnostics president Jay Hardy said in a press release. “It is a pleasure to work with such innovative and dedicated people.”
According to the magazine, companies making up the Inc. 500|5000 list have created more than 350,000 jobs in the last three years. The complete rankings, including company profiles, can be found online at inc.com/5000.
Hardy Diagnostics employs 180 workers and maintains eight distribution centers throughout the United States. The company manufactures more than 3,500 different products at its Santa Maria headquarters and exports products to more than 40 countries.
For more information, visit hardydiagnostics.com.
Biz Spotlight is written by Intern Michael McCone. Highlights are compiled by Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Oct 6-13, 2011.
