FORT LAUDERDALE, FL--(Marketwired - Mar 31, 2015) - The Dan Marino Foundation and Panera Bread will celebrate National Autism Awareness Month and score a "Touchdown for Autism!" This awareness and fundraising campaign will be hosted at twenty-nine Panera Bread Cafés across Broward and Palm Beach Counties (excludes Hallandale Beach).

Panera Bread will feature an exclusive "Football" cookie menu item that will only be available in cafés from April 1st through April 15th 2015. These one-of-a kind cookies will be sold individually or by the "Marino Dozen," 13 cookies. $1 from the sale of each cookie will benefit the Foundation.

"It's great to be partnering with Panera Bread in both my home towns -- South Florida and Pittsburgh. It's a win/win, the cookies are the best and the money raised makes a true impact in the lives of people with autism," said Dan Marino, Chairman of The Dan Marino Foundation.

Over the last four years with the support of its customers and the community Panera Bread has raised more than $200,000 for The Dan Marino Foundation and the Foundation's programs for children and young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.

"The Dan Marino Foundation is an amazing organization that is changing the lives of people with autism -- we are proud to have this beneficial program continue to flourish in our South Florida and Pittsburgh markets," said Sam Covelli of Covelli Enterprises, Owner Operator of Panera Bread in Broward/Palm Beach County, FL and Pittsburgh, PA.

ABOUT COVELLI ENTERPRISES/PANERA BREAD:
Covelli Enterprises operates more than 250 Panera Bread bakery-cafés in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida and Ontario, Canada. Headquartered in Warren, Ohio, Covelli Enterprises is the nation's largest franchisee of Panera, LLC. Covelli Enterprises donated over $23 million to charity in 2014. To learn more about Covelli Enterprises, visit www.paneracovelli.com.

ABOUT THE DAN MARINO FOUNDATION:
The Dan Marino Foundation, Inc., a 501(c) 3 organization was established in 1992 by Dan and Claire Marino, motivated by their experiences in raising their son, Michael, who is diagnosed with autism. The Foundation's mission is "empowering individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities." For more information, please visit danmarinofoundation.org.