PLEASANTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2006--Safeway Inc.
(NYSE:SWY) formally launched its annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Fundraiser today with a kick-off celebration at the company's corporate headquarters. Safeway, a long-time supporter of prostate cancer research, has set a goal to raise nearly $5 million during June to fund research and the ongoing effort to find a cure.

This is the sixth consecutive year for the Safeway Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Fundraiser, which has raised more than $12.7 million for research and treatment of the disease. Safeway, in partnership with the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the world's largest philanthropic supporter of prostate cancer research, will use the donations to fund grants to more than 1,200 researchers at 100 institutions worldwide.

Former Major League players Dave Stewart, Robin Ventura and Eric Karros will be on hand at the company's noon kick-off celebration and employee luncheon. The sports legends and Safeway have partnered with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to spread information about a disease that affects more than 234,000 men each year.

"Prostate cancer affects one in six men and poses a significant health threat," said Larree Renda, Safeway Executive Vice President, Chief Strategist and Administrative Officer and Chairwoman of the Safeway Foundation. "However, the disease has a 90 percent cure rate with early detection and treatment. We believe it is crucial to get the message out about early testing and to find new ways to treat the disease."

To further promote early detection, Safeway, for the first time, will offer prostate cancer screenings at 550 Safeway pharmacies in the United States during the month of June. The screening, which normally costs $35, will be offered at a significantly discounted price of only $10 at Safeway locations.

The screening is a simple blood test that checks the level of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in the blood stream. When there is a problem with the prostate, such as when prostate cancer develops and grows, larger amounts of PSA are released, until they reach a level that can be easily detected in the blood. These screenings can aid in early detection.

Along with the fundraising and PSA screenings, Safeway will provide information to customers about the disease. Throughout June, facts about prostate cancer and Safeway's campaign will be printed in the weekly sales circulars that are inserted in local newspapers or delivered directly to homes. A similar message can be heard on the company's in-store radio network and is printed on quart containers of Lucerne brand milk and on paper grocery bags.

ABOUT SAFEWAY

Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 50 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America based on sales. The company operates 1,775 stores in the U.S. and Canada and had annual sales of $38.4 billion in 2005. The company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY.

Copyright Business Wire 2006

Albertsons Companies

Albertsons Companies

About Albertsons Companies  

Albertsons is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. As of November 30, 2024, the Company operated 2,273 retail food and drug stores with 1,732 pharmacies, 405 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers and 19 manufacturing facilities. The Company operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under more than 20 well known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, ACME, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lovers Market. In 2023, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the Company contributed more than $350 million in food and financial support, including more than $35 million through our Nourishing Neighbors Program to ensure those living in our communities and those impacted by disasters have enough to eat.

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