2017 -- H 6163

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LC002572

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND CELEBRATING THE FIFTEEN-YEAR PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE

CHILDREN'S FRIEND ORGANIZATION AND PANERA BREAD

     Introduced By: Representatives Lancia, Morgan, Shekarchi, Amore, and Ackerman

     Date Introduced: April 27, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Children's Friend, founded in 1834, is Rhode Island's first child welfare

organization. It serves vulnerable children and their families throughout Rhode Island, with an

emphasis on Providence, Pawtucket and Central Falls. It is an innovative organization dedicated

to improving the lives of Rhode Island's most vulnerable children. Children's Friend

accomplishes their goals by efficiently providing flexible and effective services and by

advocating for policies that support and strengthen these children and their families; and

     WHEREAS, Children's Friend offers a panoply of services for children and families

including clinical services, adoption, foster care, parent education, early intervention, nurse

family visiting for high-risk newborns, Early Head Start, State-funded Pre-K, summer learning

and enrichment, child care, therapeutic child care for children with special needs, and other

specialized programs. In 2015, Children's Friend provided services to over 38,800 individuals and

96 percent of those had incomes below the federal poverty level; and

     WHEREAS, For the past fifteen years, Panera Bread, and its franchisee, the Howley

Bread Group, have sponsored Children’s Friend’s annual 5k walk and run to raise money for their

programs and services. In 2015, Panera Bread donated more than $ 5,700,000 in food and funds

to a variety of community charities. This year's walk/run will be held at Roger Williams Park and

will have hundreds of families, walkers and runners participating. The day will also include live

entertainment, arts and crafts, and delectable food from Panera Bread; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby honors and celebrates the fifteen-year partnership between

Children's Friend and Panera Bread. We thank them for their tireless and invaluable service on

behalf of Rhode Island's most vulnerable children and their families; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to David Caprio, President & CEO, Children's

Friend, Bahjat Shariff, Operating Partner, Panera Bread/Howley Bread Group, Wendy Kopp,

Director of Marketing, Panera Bread/Howley Bread Group, Stacy Couto, Vice President of

External Affairs, Children's Friend, and Maryellen O'Mahony, Director of Advancement,

Children's Friend.

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LC002572

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