Panera recognizes Ruth Devitt for community service

Posted 2/12/15

Ruth Devitt, the general manager of Panera Bread on Bald Hill Road in Warwick, was recently recognized with the Tom Howley Community Service Award. Tom Howley is the owner of Howley Bread Company, a …

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Panera recognizes Ruth Devitt for community service

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Ruth Devitt, the general manager of Panera Bread on Bald Hill Road in Warwick, was recently recognized with the Tom Howley Community Service Award. Tom Howley is the owner of Howley Bread Company, a franchise of Panera Bread.

Each year the company recognizes an employee for exceptional work in giving back to the community for either their personal community service or what they do through Panera Bread.

Devitt was recognized for both, receiving the award at the end of the year Leadership meeting on January 26.

Devitt said, “There are a lot of amazing people that could have won this award, but it is so nice to be recognized.”

Devitt has been very involved with charity work for the Muscular Dystrophy Association ever since her brother-in-law died from ALS. Most recently, she helped B’s Mobility Ride, a fundraiser for Benjamin McDermott and his family to buy a wheelchair accessible van. She held a fundraiser at Panera that helped raise over $2,000 for the family.

Amanda daCunha, marketing coordinator for Howley Bread Group, said, “Ruth is so special to our company; she has an amazing family, she has created a family at her Panera bakery-cafe and she is helping another amazing family through B’s Mobility Ride fundraising campaign. She is constantly finding ways to help and engage with everyone. Ruth was recognized for her outstanding dedication to community involvement through these causes”

Devill said, “Nothing will stop me. There is still so much more we could all do, and I look forward to pursuing that even more. Getting the award only empowered me more because it helped to remind me that everything I have been trying to do has an effect.”

Devitt’s community service has snowballed, and both the Cranston and East Greenwich Panera locations will be holding events similar to the Warwick fundraiser, benefiting B’s Mobility Ride.

The East Greenwich fundraiser will be held on Feb. 24, and the Cranston one is rescheduling due to the snow.

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