Safeway Raises $12 million for Prostate Cancer Research

In its 2009 campaign for the Prostate Cancer Foundation,  Safeway Inc. raised $12 million for crucial prostate cancer research that will lead to better treatments and help save lives.

The June Safeway program marked the ninth consecutive year that shoppers and employees have made donations at local check-out stands throughout 1,700 Safeway-owned stores across the United States and Canada.

“We continue to be amazed by the outpouring of care and giving from Safeway’s generous customers and employees,” said Jonathan Simons, MD, president and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. “Without this support, more than 40 urgent projects at the forefront of cancer research would stall out and cures for this disease, currently affecting nearly two and a half million American men and their families, would be seriously delayed.”

Since the program began in 2000, Safeway has raised nearly $54 million in support of dozens of important PCF research projects. Safeway and the Safeway Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, will use the funds collected this year to make the following grants through PCF:

• The Safeway TEMT (Thermal Enhanced Metastatic Therapy) program: 2009 is the second year of Safeway-PCF support of this unique program. The program’s goal is to increase patient response to a variety of therapies — including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy — by injecting nanoparticles into the patient. The nanoparticles collect in tumors and can be heated, using an external energy source such as a magnetic field. This weakens the tumor and makes it more responsive to therapy.
• PCF-Safeway Challenge Awards: The new three-year grants fund team science research conducted by a cross-disciplinary team from multiple research institutions working together to address an unmet medical need.
• PCF-Safeway Creativity Awards: These new one-year grants support out-of-the box ideas that can have true impact on the fight against cancer. Historically, 70 percent of the PCF-Safeway Creativity Awards have gone on to receive additional funding once the potential is identified through initial research.
• Safeway Eminent Scholars: These grants support exemplary young researchers who are the future of prostate cancer research. This is part of an ongoing program in which Safeway and PCF identify some of the brightest young minds and their innovative research ideas in order to increase the number of talented professionals in the field.

“Each year we go to our vast constituency with this important ask, and because of the significance of the cause and the impact that prostate cancer can have on men and their families, the answer is always yes,” said Safeway Chairman, President and CEO, Steve Burd. “We are proud and honored to unite our stores, customers and the communities we serve around this critical effort.”

The company operates stores under the Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Carrs and Pak ‘N Save banners.