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Support Rhode Island's Most Vulnerable Children At Children's Friend 5K Walk & Run Sponsored By Panera Bread This Saturday, April 26th

Children’s Friend is gearing up for its “12th Annual Children’s Friend 5K Walk & Run Sponsored by Panera Bread”.  The event is taking place this Saturday, April 26th at 10:30 a.m. at the Roger Williams Park Temple to Music, 1000 Elmwood Ave. in Providence (rain or shine).  Each year, the Walk & Run features live entertainment, fun activities for the children and FREE breakfast and lunch provided by Panera Bread Catering for all participants.

This year’s Walk & Run will offer a variety of entertainment, including DJ Spin, as well as The Rhythm Room, a group that interweaves the power of percussion with dynamic vocals. Children’s activities include an inflatable obstacle course, a bounce house, face painting, sand art and sun catcher painting.  Doreen Scanlon from ABC6 will once again emcee this year’s event.

Registration for the Walk & Run begins at 8:30 a.m. and the opening ceremony is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.   There is no fee to attend the event or participate in the walk.  A $25 entry fee is charged to runners, which includes timing services.  Participants are encouraged to arrive early to ensure a good parking spot.  Pre-event exercise massages will be available for participants.

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There is still plenty of time to register teams and raise funds at www.childrensfriendwalk.org. Customers are also welcome to visit the counter at any Panera Bread/Howley Bread Group bakery-cafe in Rhode Island (Cranston, East Greenwich, Lincoln, Newport, Providence, Smithfield, Wakefield and Warwick) or nearby Massachusetts (North Attleborough, North Dartmouth, Plainville and Seekonk) right up to the day of the event to make a donation to the Walk & Run.  In exchange for a donation of $1 or more, customers will receive a special wristband.

“Please put the Children’s Friend Walk & Run on your calendars and come out to support our state’s most vulnerable kids,” said David Caprio, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Friend.  “I guarantee you’ll have a lot of fun while enjoying some exercise all for a great cause.”  In addition to Panera Bread and Cat County 98.1 WCTK, Caprio wanted to thank the event’s other sponsors to date, including Amica Mutual Insurance Company, Atrion, DES Printing, Grace Episcopal Church, Innovex, J&A General Contractors, Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co., MetLife, Mutual of America, Partridge Snow & Hahn and Provider Insurance Group.

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Participants who pre-register and raise/donate $50-$149.99 will be awarded a Children Friend 12th Anniversary 5K Walk & Run short sleeve t-shirt; between $150-$499.99 a long sleeve t-shirt; between $500-$999 a Children’s Friend sweatshirt; and $1,000 and above will qualify for an Apple TV.  All participants raising $180 or more will receive a tote bag embroidered with the anniversary logo.

Participation in the Walk & Run is not limited in any fashion.  Participants should consider doubling their donations by asking their place of work to match their sponsorship total or the company can get involved by simply sponsoring a team or a route marker sign for $750.  Start or join a team or register the whole family!  Runners must raise or pay a minimum of $25 to cover timing fees.

In keeping with its “Live Consciously, Eat Deliciously” message, Panera Bread/Howley Bread Group has issued a “Cafe Challenge” requesting that each of the twelve participating bakery-cafe in Rhode Island and Massachusetts register at least 50 employees and friends for the Walk & Run.  Howley Bread Group, LTD based in Cumberland, Rhode Island owns and operates a total of twenty-eight bakery-cafes in RI, Southeastern MA and Greater Hartford/Eastern CT markets.

Children's Friend, a non-profit organization founded in 1834, is Rhode Island's oldest child welfare organization and a leading provider of child welfare, family support, mental health, and youth development services.  With centers in Providence, Pawtucket and Central Falls, Children’s Friend served more than 31,000 of Rhode Island's most vulnerable children and their families in 2013.  The agency's programs range from Adoption, Foster Care, Birth Parent Counseling, Child Care and Adoption Support and Preservation, to Dads Making A Difference, WIC, Head Start, Early Head Start, Early Intervention, Family Counseling and Project Connect.

For more details on how to participate and ways to become involved in the Children’s Friend Walk & Run, please visit www.childrensfriendwalk.org, find us on Facebook atfacebook.com/childrensfriendri or call us at 401-276-4300.

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