NOV. 2, 2017— Three local kids with terminal illnesses were surprised today at Oklahoma City metro Panera Bread locations with trips to Disney World.
Since April of this year, Panera Bread has been partnering with Baking Memories 4 Kids by raising money through guest donations. Baking Memories 4 Kids is an organization that sends terminally-ill children or children with life-threatening diseases and their family on a week-long Florida vacation to Florida theme parks. The founder and executive director is Frank Squeo. Through his own cancer battle, Squeo realized it was his memories that got him through it and helped him remain strong. He saw so many kids with illnesses that he realized they had precious and few fun memories, thus the creation of Baking Memories 4 Kids. He volunteers his time and is not paid to run the organization.
Panera Bread guests have raised more than $117,000 to send kids on Florida trips through Baking Memories 4 Kids, and Frank flew to Oklahoma City on Thursday to surprise these children with the trip of a lifetime. The kids selected for the trip are 3-year-old Penelope Merideth who has Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy, 5-year-old Kellan Wood who has Pallister Killian Syndrome and 9-year-old Callie Martin who has Lennox-Gataut Syndrome.
Learn more about how you can contribute to future trips for kids here.