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Safeway Kicks Off Month of Events and Fundraising for Prostate Cancer Research and Awareness

Posted on: Wednesday, 4 June 2008, 15:00 CDT

Safeway Inc. (NYSE:SWY) kicks off its annual prostate cancer fundraising and awareness campaign this week. This marks the eighth consecutive year that Safeway has been raising awareness and funds for prostate cancer research. Since the effort began, the company has raised nearly $30 million for prostate cancer research at some of North America's top cancer centers. The company has teamed up with the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), the world's largest philanthropic supporter of prostate cancer research, to distribute the funds. This year's campaign will focus on early detection and screening as a way to reduce mortality rates.

According to PCF, 1 in 6 men in the United States are affected by prostate cancer. This year alone, more than 218,000 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 27,000 men will die from the disease. Through early detection and screenings, prostate cancer has a nearly 90 percent cure rate, which is why this month-long campaign is focused on public education and advancing research to find a cure.

"Prostate cancer survival improves dramatically with screenings and early detection," said Safeway Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Burd. "Our companywide public service campaign will extend that core message to a wide audience and save lives in the process." Safeway will reach consumers through a series of radio, print and in-store advertisements that will run during June. The company will hold media events to raise awareness, particularly surrounding Father's Day celebrations, in a number of their geographies throughout North America.

As they have done in years past during the month, Safeway's U.S. and Canadian stores will provide customers with an opportunity to make donations at the checkstand when shopping at their local Safeway, Dominicks, Randalls/Tom Thumb, Genuardi's, Vons/Pavilions, Carrs or Pak n' Save stores. In addition, many stores will conduct their own special fundraising events. The money raised is donated directly to the PCF, which provides grants to teaching hospitals and cancer centers doing leading-edge research. PCF has made grants in Safeway's name to comprehensive cancer centers in the company's operating areas including:

-- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle

-- Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore

-- The University of California at San Francisco

-- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston

-- The University of British Columbia

-- Translational Genomics in Phoenix

Last November a PCF/Safeway funded partnership yielded an ambitious research project that brought together a team of the most prominent cancer research centers in the nation to explore the role of targeted heat in cancer therapy to treat prostate cancer. The STAR Program (for Special Team Amplification of Research) was funded with a $3 million grant from Safeway's 2007 Prostate Cancer Awareness fundraiser, and $3 million from PCF.

"Through the overwhelming support of our employees and customers we are helping fund critical research that will ultimately lead to a cure for prostate cancer," said Safeway Executive Vice President and Safeway Foundation Chair, Larree Renda. "We are helping make a difference and we hope through public awareness that families and friends can encourage loved ones to get their prostate cancer screening."

Prostate cancer is one of many important causes supported by Safeway and The Safeway Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm. The company is also one of the largest supporters of breast cancer causes, having raised $41 million for breast cancer treatment and research since 2001. In total, Safeway supports a broad range of charitable and community programs and in 2007 donated more than $172 million, the equivalent of 20% of its net income, to causes such as education, food banks and programs focused on assisting people with disabilities.

About Safeway www.Safeway.com

Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 100 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America based on sales. The company operates 1,740 stores in the United States and Canada and had annual sales of $42.3 billion in 2007. The company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY.

About the Prostate Cancer Foundation

The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world's largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research. Founded in 1993, the PCF has raised more than $288 million and provided funding for prostate cancer research to more than 1,400 researchers at 100 institutions worldwide. The PCF has a simple, yet urgent goal: to find better treatments and a cure for recurrent prostate cancer.

Source: Business Wire

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