Safeway Inc. (NYSE: SWY) today announced the results of a month-long
campaign to raise awareness and fund research for a cure for one of the
most prevalent forms of cancer in men: prostate cancer.
The $12 million in customer and employee contributions, raised at the
company’s 1,700-plus stores in the U.S. and Canada, will be donated,
through The Safeway Foundation, to a group of respected research centers
and projects and reflects Safeway’s continuing commitment to the fight
against cancer.
“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.”
This marks the ninth year that Safeway has held a June Prostate Cancer
Awareness campaign. In that time, the company has raised nearly $54
million for the cause and supported dozens of important research
projects. The company’s long-time partner in this effort is the Prostate
Cancer Foundation (PCF), the world’s largest philanthropic supporter of
cancer research. Safeway and the Safeway Foundation, the company’s
giving 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.
