FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18th, 2009

Luverne, Ala. – The Alabama Broadcasters Association has named businesswoman and philanthropist Patricia "Sister Schubert" Barnes, founder of Sister Schubert's Homemade Rolls, as its 2009 Citizen of the Year. Given annually, the award honors an Alabama citizen for distinguished public service and outstanding contributions to the well-being, prosperity and progress of the state. Ms. Barnes accepted the honor during the annual ABA convention, held May 14 through 17 at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Ala.

"It is an honor to join such distinguished Alabamians as Dr. Jack Hawkins, Bart Starr and Mother Angelica in receiving this recognition," Ms. Barnes said. "I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to improve people's lives through the success of Sister Schubert's and the work of the Barnes Family Foundation."

Ms. Barnes founded Sister Schubert's Homemade Rolls in Troy, Ala. in 1991 and sold stock in the company to Lancaster Colony Corporation in 2000. While retaining an active leadership role as founder and vice president of Sister Schubert's, she set up the Barnes Family Foundation to fund her philanthropic mission. To date, the foundation has distributed more than $2.3 million to charities, scholarships, historical preservation and work with abandoned children.

Earlier this year, the City of Gorlovka, Ukraine awarded Ms. Barnes its silver Gorlov medal for establishing Sasha's Home, a seven-apartment family care facility for nearly 40 abandoned Ukrainian children awaiting adoption.

To raise operating funds for Sasha's Home, the entrepreneur and author of Sister Schubert's Secret Bread Recipes is completing a second book, Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters. The coffee-table book combines recipes with the story of how Ms. Barnes began the home-based business that became Sister Schubert's Homemade Rolls. Scheduled for publication in summer 2009, the book can be pre-ordered at www.castyourbreaduponthewaters.com.

About Sister Schubert's Homemade Rolls
Sister Schubert's Homemade Rolls was founded in Troy, Ala., by Patricia "Sister Schubert" Barnes in 1991. Today, it is a subsidiary of T. Marzetti Company, Lancaster Colony's specialty foods division. Sister Schubert's produces 12 varieties of rolls at three bakeries: the company headquarters in Luverne, Ala.; Saraland, Ala.; and Horse Cave, Ky. For more information, visit SisterSchuberts.com.

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