The Right Ingredients to Baking Productive Adults -Panera Bread and Community Based Care of Central Florida Join Forces to Put Young Adults on the Path to Success
*Press Release*
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| Panera Bread (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
“We’ve found that throughout these partnerships, natural mentorships are created in the work place and positive work habits are instilled,” said Annette Ford, owner Covelli/Panera.
In a spring 2012 survey of local foster teens ages 16-17 - one reported active employment and only 11 had been employed within the past year. CBC is actively looking for partners throughout Central Florida who will give these youth a chance at employment.
“When you can teach a young adult the responsibility and pride in oneself that comes with having a job, you have really set them up for success throughout their lives,” said Glen Casel, CBC CEO. “We have so many eager, intelligent teens in our program who just need an opportunity to succeed.”
Panera Bread owners of 65 Central Florida and Tampa Bay locations, Annette and Gavin Ford, knew that their expanding company could make an impact on the lives of these teens by offering them the basic life-skills that come with employment
While getting the job is a great first step, many of the teens have hardships in getting to the workplace and purchasing their required wardrobe. Panera Bread recognizes these issues and has committed to working with individual employees to provide uniforms and even bus passes to get the teens off on the right foot. “We thought it is important to not let not having money prohibit someone from earning money – especially these kids who have already gone through so much,” said Ford.
“There are thousands of small business and large corporations in Central Florida that we know our teens would be a great asset to,” said Casel. “We know that our relationship with Panera is just the first of many such partnerships.”
Companies interested in partnering with the CBC on this initiative are encouraged to learn more at cbccfl.org.
