Cinnabon And National Brands Celebrate Nurses Week 2017 With Free Treats And Discounts

National Nurses Week 2017, observed from May 6-12, brought numerous appreciation events and freebies from national brands and local businesses across the United States. Healthcare professionals were treated to complimentary food items, special discounts, and thank-you promotions as companies recognized their vital contributions to patient care. Among the most consistent participants in this annual appreciation event is Cinnabon, which has celebrated Nurses Week since 2000 by offering free cinnamon rolls to nurses who present their medical identification. This article examines the various freebies and discounts available during Nurses Week 2017, with particular focus on Cinnabon's longstanding tradition of appreciation, while also highlighting other brands that joined in the celebration of nursing professionals.

Cinnabon's Annual Nurses Week Tradition

Cinnabon has established itself as one of the most recognizable supporters of nursing professionals through its annual Nurses Week promotion. During the 2017 celebration, participating Cinnabon bakeries offered nurses a choice of complimentary treats from May 6-12. Healthcare professionals who presented their medical ID badge received one of the following options: a free Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll, a MiniBon, or a four-count of the newest treat, BonBites™. This promotion has been a consistent part of Cinnabon's corporate social responsibility efforts since the year 2000, representing a significant investment in appreciating the nursing community.

The origins of Cinnabon's relationship with nursing appreciation trace back to a meaningful patient experience. According to the company's official press release, the connection began when a patient requested Cinnabon cinnamon rolls be given to all his nurses as a gift of appreciation for the compassionate care they provided during his illness. This gesture inspired Cinnabon to formalize its support for nurses through a partnership with The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation, an organization specifically created to thank nurses for their extraordinary compassionate care.

Joe Guith, President of Cinnabon, articulated the company's commitment to nursing appreciation: "Nurses dedicate their lives to others every day. Providing Cinnabon treats is one small way that we can give thanks to those that give to others." By 2017, this tradition had spanned seventeen years and resulted in the distribution of over one million cinnamon rolls to healthcare professionals during Nurses Week celebrations.

The promotion's duration aligns with the official dates of National Nurses Week, which concludes on May 12th, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Cinnabon's participation represents one of the longest-running corporate appreciation programs for nurses in the United States, demonstrating a sustained commitment to recognizing this essential profession.

Other Restaurant and Retail Freebies for Nurses Week 2017

Beyond Cinnabon's signature promotion, numerous other businesses recognized nurses during the 2017 appreciation week with special offers. These ranged from complimentary food items to percentage discounts, with varying requirements for proof of professional status.

Food and Beverage Establishments

Einstein Bros. Bagels participated in Nurses Week 2017 by offering a free Espresso Buzz Bagel and Schmear specifically on Thursday, May 11. Nurses could redeem this offer by presenting a valid nurses ID or by wearing their scrubs, providing flexibility in documentation requirements. The coffee bagel promotion represented a smaller-scale but meaningful thank-you gesture from the bagel chain.

PDQ, a fast-casual restaurant chain, extended its appreciation on Tuesday, May 9, by offering nurses and teachers 50 percent off their entire check all day long at participating locations. This discount required a valid Nurses or Teachers ID for redemption. Notably, the promotion was available at all participating locations except for the PDQ Clermont location, indicating some variation in participation across the chain's footprint.

David's Tea showed appreciation for nurses and nursing students by offering a free tea of the day on May 12, the final day of Nurses Week. This promotion specifically included nursing students, extending the appreciation to those entering the profession. The offer required presentation of valid professional identification or student status.

EVOS, a health-focused fast-casual restaurant, participated in Nurses Appreciation Week with a unique offer: a FREE MEAL or SALAD with the purchase of a meal or salad. This promotion ran from Monday through Friday, May 8-12, and required presentation of a valid professional ID at all EVOS locations. The BOGO-style offer provided substantial value to healthcare professionals during the appreciation week.

Starbucks, while not specifically marketing its promotion as a Nurses Week deal, offered a benefit relevant to healthcare professionals during the same timeframe. The coffee chain brought back their half-price Frappuccino Hour starting May 5th and running through May 14th, with the discounted drinks available for purchases made between 3-6 p.m. at participating stores. This promotion, while not exclusive to nurses, provided a welcome treat to healthcare professionals who might be working during those hours.

Local Business Appreciation

In addition to national chains, some local businesses also showed their appreciation for nurses during the 2017 celebration. Sweet Confections Bakery in Belton offered nurses 15% off their entire purchase throughout the week simply for presenting their healthcare ID badge. This local promotion demonstrated that appreciation for nursing extended beyond major corporate brands to small community businesses.

Eligibility Requirements and Redemption Process

The Nurses Week 2017 promotions varied in their documentation requirements, but most consistently required some form of professional identification to verify eligibility. The most common requirement was presentation of a medical ID badge, which served as proof of professional status. Some establishments, like Einstein Bros. Bagels, offered alternative documentation options such as wearing scrubs, recognizing that nurses might not always carry their ID badges during off-duty hours.

Participation levels varied significantly among the promotions. Cinnabon's offer was available at "participating bakeries," suggesting not all locations took part in the promotion. Similarly, PDQ noted that their discount was valid at "all participating locations, except PDQ Clermont," indicating that while most locations participated, some exceptions existed. This variability highlights the importance of checking with individual locations before attempting to redeem offers.

The timing of promotions also differed, with some offers available only on specific days during Nurses Week (like Einstein Bros. Bagels on May 11 and PDQ on May 9), while others were available throughout the entire week (like Cinnabon's May 6-12 promotion). This staggered approach allowed nurses to potentially access multiple offers if their schedules permitted.

The History and Significance of Nurses Week

National Nurses Week has been celebrated annually in the United States, typically during the first week of May, culminating on May 12th to commemorate Florence Nightingale's birthday. The 2017 celebration followed this established timeline, with many businesses choosing to honor nurses during this nationally recognized period.

The significance of Nurses Week extends beyond simple appreciation; it represents an opportunity to recognize the demanding nature of nursing work. As one source noted, "Nurses are our life support. They work demanding hours, run on very little sleep, and are not nearly appreciated enough." This characterization underscores why many businesses view Nurses Week promotions as both a marketing opportunity and a genuine expression of gratitude.

The DAISY Foundation, supported by Cinnabon since 2000, plays a crucial role in formalizing nursing appreciation beyond promotional events. The foundation was created specifically to say 'thank you' to nurses for the extraordinary compassionate care they provide. By partnering with organizations like The DAISY Foundation, businesses can align their promotional efforts with meaningful causes that support the nursing profession year-round.

Notable Absences and Changing Promotions

The 2017 Nurses Week promotions also revealed some notable absences from previous years. Chick-fil-A, which had offered free chicken sandwiches to nurses in previous years, confirmed to International Business Times that they "do not have any promotions planned chainwide" in 2017. This change highlighted how participation in Nurses Week promotions can vary annually based on corporate decisions and marketing strategies.

The absence of certain promotions demonstrates that while many businesses recognize the value of Nurses Week appreciation, participation is not guaranteed from year to year. This variability underscores the importance of staying updated on current promotional offers rather than assuming previous promotions will be repeated.

Impact and Reception of Nurses Week Promotions

While the source materials do not provide specific data on the number of nurses who benefited from these promotions, the widespread availability of offers across multiple business categories suggests that these appreciation events had a significant impact. The variety of offerings—from complimentary cinnamon rolls to discounted meals—provided nurses with numerous opportunities to receive recognition regardless of their location or preferences.

The long-standing nature of Cinnabon's participation, spanning seventeen years by 2017, indicates that these promotional events deliver both public relations value and customer engagement benefits for businesses. The company reported distributing over one million cinnamon rolls during Nurses Week up to that point, suggesting substantial participation from nurses across the country.

For nurses, these promotions offer more than just complimentary items—they represent tangible recognition of their professional contributions. In a profession often characterized by long hours and emotionally challenging situations, these gestures of appreciation, however small, can provide meaningful morale boosts.

Conclusion

National Nurses Week 2017 provided numerous opportunities for healthcare professionals to receive recognition through complimentary food items and special discounts. Cinnabon's longstanding tradition of offering free cinnamon rolls since 2000 represented one of the most consistent and substantial appreciation efforts, with participating locations offering a choice of Classic Rolls, Minibons, or BonBites to nurses presenting their medical ID badge from May 6-12. Other businesses like Einstein Bros. Bagels, PDQ, David's Tea, EVOS, and Starbucks also contributed to the celebration with their own specialized offers.

These promotions varied in duration, requirements, and value, but collectively demonstrated a broad recognition of nursing professionals' contributions. While participation varied by business and location, the availability of these offers across multiple restaurant categories and retail segments provided nurses with numerous opportunities to receive appreciation during their special week.

The 2017 Nurses Week promotions highlighted both the growing corporate recognition of nursing professionals and the importance of events like National Nurses Week in fostering this appreciation. As businesses continue to recognize the value of healthcare professionals as both essential workers and potential customers, Nurses Week promotions likely remain a significant component of corporate appreciation strategies in the United States.

Sources

1. WRAL - National Nurses Week Freebies 2017
2. KNUE - Cinnabon Offers Freebies for Nurses Week
3. International Business Times - Nurses Week 2017 Freebies
4. HH Staff - Cinnabon Nurses Week Promotion
5. The Bear of Real Estate - Nurses Week 2017 Freebies
6. PR Newswire - Cinnabon Thanks Nurses
7. US 105 FM - Free Sweets at Cinnabon