Get the latest delivered to your inbox
Privacy Policy

Now Reading

Safeway Raises Record Amount for Easter Seals

Safeway Raises Record Amount for Easter Seals

Published 05-18-07

Submitted by Albertsons Companies

PLEASANTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2007--Safeway
(NYSE:SWY) today announced it raised $5.5 million for Easter Seals, one of the most established and respected charities dedicated to assisting people with disabilities and special needs. The company raised the funds during an April campaign when the company's customers were provided an opportunity to donate at store checkstands. The campaign also included awareness-raising messages at retail and on the company's web site, as well as in print and broadcast advertising. In addition, Safeway will this year raise $1.3 million for the charity through a range events including golf tournaments and gala dinners -- bringing the company's overall total raised to more than $6.8 million.

"Safeway never ceases to amaze us," said James E. Williams Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, Easter Seals. "Raising these kinds of funds during a four-week window is nothing short of remarkable. It says a great deal about Safeway's unique abilities as a fundraiser, and even more about their employees and customers who have chosen to make a positive impact on the lives of people living with
disabilities."

Williams said the funds are earmarked for a range of Easter Seals programs throughout Safeway's operating area including a number of the organization's Child Development Centers. In addition, Easter Seals new Therapeutic School and Center for Autism Research in Chicago will have two sections of the facility named for Safeway's Dominick's division. Easter Seals' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Gymnasium in Sacramento, California will be dedicated to Safeway. In Colorado Safeway and Easter Seals will use a portion of the funds raised in the region to support Easter Seals camps for children with disabilities and respite centers for caregivers. Easter Seals of Southern California and the Vons Division of Safeway will team up to create new and expanded programs to serve children and adults with autism.

"This exceptional fundraising outcome is a direct result of the generosity of our customers and the energy of our store teams," said Larree Renda, Safeway Executive Vice President, Chief Strategist and Administrative Officer and Chairwoman of The Safeway Foundation. "The results are compelling evidence that causes and organizations associated with helping people with disabilities resonate as a priority in the communities where we operate stores."

The Safeway campaign in April coincided with Autism Awareness Month -- an Easter Seals campaign to raise awareness of autism services and treatments available to families. Easter Seals is the largest provider of services and support for children and adults living with autism. As the fastest-growing developmental disability in the world today -- increasing at an annual rate of 10 to 17 percent -- more than 1.5 million Americans currently live with autism. As many as one in every 150 children is diagnosed with the condition each year. With help from Safeway, Easter Seals and the Autism Society of America have created a partnership to improve access to and delivery of local autism services and treatments for autistic people throughout the country.

Easter Seals is one of many important charities and causes that receive financial sponsorship from Safeway and The Safeway Foundation. In 2006 Safeway and The Safeway Foundation gave more than $154 million in cash and product donations and products to a wide array of causes. In addition to assisting people with disabilities, the company supports hunger relief, education and health and human services programs, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and various organizations supporting breast cancer awareness and research.

Safeway and The Safeway Foundation have helped raise more than $78 million for Easter Seals since 1986. This support helps Easter Seals provide services for people with disabilities, including medical rehabilitation, speech therapy, occupational therapy, job training, adult and child day services and recreational services.

About Safeway

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 1,755 stores in the United States and Canada and had annual sales of $40.2 billion in 2006. The company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY.

About Easter Seals

Easter Seals is the leading non-profit provider of services for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, physical and mental disabilities, and other special needs. For more than 85 years, we have been offering help and hope to children and adults living with disabilities, and to the families who love them.

Through therapy, training, education and support services, Easter Seals creates life-changing solutions so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in their communities. Support children and adults with disabilities at www.easterseals.com.

Copyright Business Wire 2007

Albertsons Companies logo

Albertsons Companies

Albertsons Companies

Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. As of February 26, 2022, the Company operated 2,276 retail stores with 1,722 pharmacies, 402 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers and 20 manufacturing facilities. The Company operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia with 24 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. The Company is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2021, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the Company contributed nearly $200 million in food and financial support, including approximately $40 million through our Nourishing Neighbors Program to ensure those living in our communities have enough to eat.

More from Albertsons Companies

Join today and get the latest delivered to your inbox