Last month, Brooklyn Water Bagel, a leader in the fast casual industry specializing in breakfast and deli creations using a proprietary 14-step water filtration process, honored the victims of the June 12, 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting by serving special handcrafted Rainbow Pride Bagels at their Winter Park and Lake Mary locations in Orlando. The Rainbow Pride Bagels were available Saturday, June 10 to Monday, June 12. Brooklyn Water Bagel donated 100 percent of the proceeds from the Rainbow Pride Bagel sales to the Better Together Fund at Central Florida Foundation.

The grand total raised from the sales of the Rainbow Pride Bagels equaled $4,260, with 3,303 bagels sold in total; Brooklyn Water Bagel Winter Park sold 1,897 total Rainbow Pride Bagels and Brooklyn Water Bagel Lake Mary sold 1,406. The Check Presentation ceremony with Brooklyn Water Bagel and the Central Florida Foundation took place July 7, 2017 with representatives from CFF accepting the donation from Brooklyn’s team in attendance.

“Central Florida Foundation appreciates the support from Brooklyn Water Bagel for the Better Together Fund. One year after the Pulse Nightclub tragedy, the Foundation continues to assess the needs and gaps in our community and is committed to supporting the long-term healing process,” says the Central Florida Foundation’s Rachel Calderon. “The Better Together Fund has worked to improve the local mental health care system, strengthen the LGBTQ, Latino, and faith communities, among other investments, to build a resilient community.”