Safeway 'Season of Giving' Campaign Closes On High Note

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. here is closing out 2007 with a series of "Season of Giving" campaigns designed to provide food, toys, and services to the disadvantaged across its operating areas.

The food drives will serve more than two million meals during the holidays, Safeway said. In all, the company said it is conducting more than 40 regional food drives, sponsoring 15 major toy drives, and collecting thousands of coats in communities throughout the United States and Canada.

"Assisting those individuals and families who require a helping hand during the holidays and throughout the year is an important part of Safeway's giving programs," said Safeway corporate e.v.p. and the Safeway Foundation's chair Larree Renda. "This 'Season of Giving' campaign provides an opportunity for our employees and customers to help their communities and make a brighter holiday for so many families."

The campaign comes at an important time of the year when community organizations, particularly local food banks and hunger relief centers, are in need of additional products and resources for the families they serve. In 2007 Safeway will provide more than $110 million in products and donations to these critical programs, making the company one of the largest supporters of hunger relief outreach in North America.

The Season of Giving campaign involves local efforts at stores in 21 states, the District of Columbia and Canada under the Vons, Pavilions, Dominick's, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Genuardi's, Carr, Pak 'n Save and Safeway banners. Safeway employees and customers support the various efforts through donations and volunteer activities to help their local charities.

The Season of Giving campaign is Safeway's final fundraising and outreach initiative for 2007, a year in which the chain raised and donated nearly $175 million for hunger relief, cancer research, education, programs for people with disabilities and other programs.

The grocer's record year for charitable giving includes more than $110 million in food and monetary contributions to food banks, pantries and other hunger relief agencies and more than $22 to schools and education programs. Safeway customers, employees and partners contributed nearly $28 million to breast cancer and prostate cancer research and awareness and another $12.5 million for Easter Seals and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which assist people with disabilities.

Safeway, which was named as Progressive Grocer's 2007 Retailer of the Year, operates 1,738 stores in the United States and western Canada.
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