- link Copy Url
- [  Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Panera Bread Learns People Are Basically Good - A blog by Cindy Hoot https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/7772?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter")
- [  Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/7772?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin")
- [  Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/7772?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook")
- [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Panera Bread Learns People Are Basically Good - A blog by Cindy Hoot&body=ESG News from 3BL Blogs https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/7772?absolute=1 "Share via email")
 
 

 # Panera Bread Learns People Are Basically Good - A blog by Cindy Hoot

 

##### Follow Cindy Tickle on Twitter @ethicalbiz

 

 

 Jul 8, 2010 5:25 PM ET

  

[Panera Bread Learns People Are Basically Good](http://3bl.me/n2g2vb)

**Panera Bread sets an example with its non-profit cafe and challenges other corporations to push their philanthropy beyond writing checks.**

Last month, I blogged about [Panera Bread](http://www.panerabread.com/)’s new non-profit cafe in St. Louis dubbed the [St. Louis Bread Company Cares Cafe](http://inspiredeconomist.com/2010/05/19/lets-help-panera-bread-take-corporate-social-responsibility-to-a-new-level/). The idea was simple… take whatever you want to eat or drink and instead of paying a cashier, drop whatever you can afford into a donation box.

Ron Shaich, who stepped down as Panera’s CEO last month, opened the non-profit cafe “to find out what human nature is all about”. He said he’s dreamed about doing something like this for years. Now, the cafe has been open over a month, and we want to know… what’s the verdict?  
  
  
  
Did Panera’s social experiment prove that people are basically good at heart?

[continue reading](http://3bl.me/n2g2vb).



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 [![](/sites/default/files/Clients/bloglogo.jpg)](/profiles/3bl-blogs)

 



 

### More from 3BL Blogs

###### [Social Media and Leadership: Are Twitter and Facebook 21st Century Necessities? - By Aman Singh](/news/social-media-and-leadership-are-twitter-and-facebook-21st-century-necessities-aman-singh)

 Aug 22, 2011 3:20 PM ET

  



###### [What Makes a Sustainability Leader? ](/news/what-makes-sustainability-leader)

 Aug 12, 2011 2:55 PM ET

  



###### [Social Emerges as Online Giving Driver for 2011 – By Companies for Good blog](/news/social-emerges-online-giving-driver-2011-companies-good-blog)

 Aug 11, 2011 3:00 PM ET

  



###### [Praise is not a free lunch - By Michael Prager](/news/praise-not-free-lunch-michael-prager)

 Jul 29, 2011 8:46 AM ET

  



###### [Iowa Eclipses Canada in Grain Production, Challenges China in Soybean Production - By Earth Policy Institute](/news/iowa-eclipses-canada-grain-production-challenges-china-soybean-production-earth-policy)

 Jul 28, 2011 10:05 AM ET

  



###### [Growing Water Deficit Threatening Grain Harvests - By Earth Policy Institute](/news/growing-water-deficit-threatening-grain-harvests-earth-policy-institute)

 Jul 21, 2011 8:24 AM ET

  



###### [Remove fat kids from home - By Michael Prager](/news/remove-fat-kids-home-michael-prager)

 Jul 19, 2011 11:08 AM ET

  



###### [World on the Edge by the Numbers: Shining a Light on Energy Efficiency - By Earth Policy Insititute](/news/world-edge-numbers-shining-light-energy-efficiency-earth-policy-insititute)

 Jul 14, 2011 8:57 AM ET