Panera Bread East Greenwich To Hold Fundraiser In Memory Of Jacob Aversa

EAST GREENWICH, RI, October 15, 2013 — The Panera Bread at East Greenwich Square on 1000 Division Street in East Greenwich, Rhode Island announces that it will hold a 10 Percent of Sales Night in memory of Jacob “Jake” Aversa who unexpectedly passed away last month at the age of 13.  The fundraising event, which will include a raffle prize table with all the proceeds going directly to the Aversa family, will be held on Monday, October 21st from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Jacob was an 8th grader at the Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School in Coventry, Rhode Island.  An avid athlete, Jacob loved all sports.  He played basketball, soccer and his favorite sport, basketball, all in the Town of Coventry’s recreation leagues.  He especially enjoyed spending time with his friends and “scootering” at the local skate park. Jake resided in Coventry.

“I had the pleasure of coaching Jake in basketball and got to know him and his family,” said David Mruk, an Associate Trainer at Panera East Greenwich.  “He was a real special kid who always had a smile on his face.  We thought this event would be a great way for people close to him to get together while helping his family get through this tough time.”

Gerald LePain, Head Coach, added, “I will always remember the crazy shots he would take during basketball practice and how he would just laugh and have fun.  Jake has a special place in so many people’s heats.  We will remember him as a great young man who loved his family and being with his friends.”

All Panera Bread locations are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offer a variety of menu items -- including breads and bagels, breakfast sandwiches, creative lunch and dinner sandwiches, pastas, hand-tossed salads, homemade soups and a variety of espresso beverages.  Panera Bread Catering also caters and delivers its full menu for any occasion at the office or home. The breakfast, lunch and dinner assortment is sure to impress every time.  For a Panera Bread Catering menu and more, please visit a cafe or www.paneracatering.com.

Panera Bread/Howley Bread Group owns and operates a total of 26 bakery-cafes in: Greater Hartford/Eastern, Connecticut (Bristol, Canton, Enfield, Farmington, Foxwoods, Glastonbury, Groton, Hartford, Lisbon, Manchester (2), Newington, Waterford, West Hartford and Wethersfield); Southeastern, Massachusetts (North Attleborough, North Dartmouth, Plainville and Seekonk); and RI (Cranston, Warwick, East Greenwich, Newport, Providence, Smithfield and Wakefield) markets.

For more information on the fundraiser in memory of Jake Aversa or how to contribute a raffle item, please contact Panera Bread East Greenwich at East Greenwich Square on 1000 Division Street in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, 02818; call (401) 541-9088; or visit www.panerabreadhbg.com.