Sam and Caryn Covelli, whose company is the world’s single largest franchisee of Panera Bread restaurants, are donating $1 million to Youngstown State University.
In recognition of the gift, the athletics facilities across from Stambaugh Stadium on the west side of campus will be named the Covelli Sports Complex. The Covellis will be recognized at tonight’s YSU football game at Stambaugh Stadium.
“It is with great pleasure that we accept this generous gift from a family that has a long tradition of giving back to the community,” YSU President Jim Tressel said. “We are honored to partner with the Covellis to continue the dramatic improvement to the Fifth Avenue gateway to the university and to enhance the campus learning experiences of our students. The affiliation with the Covelli family name, a name that speaks to excellence, is a blessing for YSU.”
“We are honored to be able to help the university in its mission to provide a first class athletic complex for their soccer, track and field, and softball programs,” said Sam Covelli, who received an honorary degree at YSU’s Fall Commencement in December 2016.
The funds will be used to enhance and maintain YSU athletics facilities west of Fifth Avenue across from Stambaugh Stadium, particularly Farmers National Bank Field and the YSU Softball Field. In 2013, after more than a decade of acquiring and clearing property, YSU constructed a soccer and track-and-field complex, as well as a softball field, on the site. The fields are now home to the YSU women’s soccer, men’s and women’s track and field, and women’s softball teams. Various local high school soccer and track-and-field programs, in addition to YSU intramurals, also use the facilities.
The Covelli Sports Complex will encompass the soccer and track-and-field facilities and the softball field, as well as a proposed new tennis center
“The addition of this complex places YSU’s soccer, track-and-field, softball and tennis facilities among the best in the Horizon League,” said Ron Strollo, executive director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “Having our teams play their games right here on campus, as opposed to off-campus venues, creates energy and excitement across the university, improving the college experience for all students.”
Sam Covelli is owner/operator of Covelli Enterprises, headquartered in the Mahoning Valley. The company operates more than 300 Panera bread bakery-cafés, O’Charley’s restaurants and Dairy Queen stores in Ohio, Kentucky, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Sam and Caryn Covelli, whose company is the world’s single largest franchisee of Panera Bread restaurants, employs more than 35,000 people.
The company has a long history of philanthropy, including the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, The Rich Center at YSU and the Potential Development School. Over the past seven years, the annual Panerathon has drawn more than 50,000 people and raised more than $2 million for the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center at St. Elizabeth Health Center. Covelli Enterprises also supports the Salvation Army, the Disabled American Veterans, the Animal Welfare League, the American Heart Association, Akron Children’s Hospital of the Mahoning Valley and Second Harvest Food Bank.
In 2012, Covelli was recognized with the Salvation Army’s Distinguished Community Service Award, the American Red Cross Spirit of the Mahoning Valley Award and was named 2013 Corporate Philanthropist of the Year in the Mahoning Valley. In 2014, Covelli received the Salvation Army Project Bundle Up Award and the 2014 Association of Fundraising Professionals of Greater Cleveland Corporate Leadership Award.
In 2016, the company donated more than $27 million in unsold bread product to local food banks and hunger relief agencies. In addition, in 2012, Covelli donated $10 million to the Ohio State Athletics Department – the largest in the department’s history – to assist in funding the construction of a multi-sport arena.
Covelli’s honors include Ohio Entrepreneur of the Year, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Northeast Ohio, YSU Alumni Association Distinguished Citizen of the Year and Youngstown Area Restaurateur of the Year. He was most recently inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society and received the Medallion Award for Entrepreneurship at YSU. He was the founder of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Mahoning Valley and Western Pennsylvania, and was a founding sponsor of the Giant Eagle LPGA Tournament Classic.
He currently serves on the board of trustees for the Cleveland Clinic; Ohio State Athletics Campaign Committee; Velosano Steering Committee; Mercy Health Foundation of the Mahoning Valley Board; W.D. Packard Music Hall Board of Trustees; Better Business Bureau Board of Directors; Warren Economic Development Foundation Board; Diocese of Youngstown Blue Ribbon Executive Committee; Northeast Ohio Development and Finance Authority; Ohio Association of Commodores; as well as the Urology Care Foundation of the American Urological Association.
The Covellis live in Warren, and have three children: Candace, Albert and Danielle.
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