Covelli receives award from NAACP

Staff report

pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP presented Sam Covelli with its highest corporate recognition at the organization’s annual Human Rights Dinner on Thursday at the Westin Convention Center.

Covelli, the owner and operator of Panera Bread restaurants, was selected for the NAACP’s Corporate Partner of the Year award because of the work that Warren-based Covelli Enterprises has done in creating a diverse and inclusive workforce at its 275 restaurants in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Florida.

“We applaud Covelli Enterprises for creating such a diverse and inclusive workforce and believe that other companies can learn by following Covelli’s example,” said Constance Parker, president of the Pittsburgh NAACP.

The award was created to honor business leaders and companies who support and encourage the mission of the NAACP in their daily work.

Covelli said he is humbled and honored by the award.

“This award means so much to me because the Pittsburgh NAACP really knows us and our work,” Covelli said. “We are a company that believes in serving its communities and in investing in its associates and in creating a diverse and inclusive workforce, and it is so gratifying to know that the NAACP recognizes this.”

The 62nd Annual Human Rights Dinner was presented by EQT Corp., and the corporate committee co-chairmen are Gregory Peaslee, executive vice president of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Quintin Bullock, president of Community College of Allegheny County.