Covelli Enterprises, the largest franchisee of Panera Bread, is partnering with Akron Children’s through the launch of its fourth annual “Chip in for Children’s Mental Health” campaign.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, starting today and through May 10, $1 from each of Panera’s famous Chocolate Chipper cookies sold at the 21 Covelli-owned and operated bakery-cafes in the Akron, Canton and Mahoning Valley area will continue to help fund a community outreach education coordinator in the Mahoning Valley region. This person’s job is to support teachers, counselors and other school staff to integrate trauma informed school-based social and emotional learning, restorative justice practices and management strategies into their classrooms.

Since 2022, Covelli Enterprises has donated more than $500,000 to local hospitals and nonprofit organizations to support mental and behavioral health services across the communities it serves. As part of this initiative, Covelli has donated nearly $125,000 to Akron Children’s, which went toward hiring Nicholas Morio.

Morio has educated more than 500 teachers and other school personnel in 10 school districts in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties. He offers professional development that builds staff understanding of the social and emotional needs of students and evidence-based practices that can increase student engagement, reduce negative student behaviors and improve staff satisfaction.

“We are deeply grateful to our loyal customers who have supported our Chip in for Children’s Mental Health Campaign over the past four years,” said Sam Covelli, CEO of Covelli Enterprises. “Their generosity has enabled us to contribute meaningfully to the vital work of organizations like Akron Children’s. As the need for mental health support continues to grow, we remain committed to helping ensure every child in our community has access to the care, understanding, and resources necessary to be successful.”

“The results of the Akron Children’s 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment indicate that caregivers and stakeholders consistently brought up the increasing complexity and severity of youth mental and behavioral health,” said Sherry Blair, youth suicide prevention supervisor at Akron Children’s. “This highlights the critical need for social and emotional learning programs, which provide children with the tools to build resilience, cope with challenges and thrive despite adversity.”

“This campaign, along with Covelli’s partnership and generous donation, has helped us raise awareness and enhance education about trauma and its impact on children and families through our social and emotional learning initiative,” Morio said.

Chocolate Chipper cookies can be purchased online at www.panera

bread.com. They also can be purchased at the following locations: Warren (Elm Road), Niles (Eastwood Mall complex), Austintown (plaza at state Route 46 and Mahoning Avenue), Canfield (U.S. Route 224) and Boardman cafes on Market Street and South Avenue.