Panera Bread recently gave the Hoag Hospital Foundation a $25,000 gift to assist in supporting the hospital's Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center, officials announced Tuesday.
Panera Bread partnered with Hoag for the second year in a row to benefit the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center through its Community Breadbox program. Thirteen south Orange County Panera Bread locations participated in the program, giving their guests and team members the opportunity to give cash donations in store as part of their ongoing effort to support local organizations and community members.

“I have always been impressed with the healthy and diabetes friendly menu at Panera Bread and this gift once again reflects a remarkable sensitivity for the needs of the community,” Dr. Daniel A. Nadeau, M.D., program director of the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center, said in a released statement. Hoag reports nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, and the American Diabetes Association estimates that more than 79 million Americans are at increased risk for the disease.

The Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag which provides comprehensive services for those with, or at risk for diabetes, regardless of their ability to pay, officials said. Mary and Dick Allen, long-time generous supporters of Hoag, accepted the $25,00 check from Panera Bread, along with Kris V. Iyer, M.D., F.A.C.P., Hoag Medical Group president and executive medical director of the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center, Daniel A. Nadeau, M.D., program director of the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center and recipient of the Dr. Kris V. Iyer Endowed Chair in Diabetes Care, and Angie Salicrup, director of development, Hoag Hospital Foundation.
For more information on the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center, visit hoag.org/diabetes.