|
Washington, DC -- (3 June 2008) – Special Olympics is pleased to announce that $8.1 million dollars was raised as a result of Safeway's April 2008 Promotion to benefit individuals with disabilities in the United States. Safeway invited Special Olympics to participate in a pilot opportunity this year by becoming an additional beneficiary in a company-wide in-store promotion that it conducts annually to benefit Easter Seals. In 2007, Safeway raised a total of $5.5 million.
"Our ability to raise significant dollars for these charities is in direct proportion to the dedication of our employees and the generosity of our customers," said Safeway Chairman, President and CEO Steve Burd. “Assisting people with disabilities has become a core part of who we are as a company."
“We're thrilled with the success of Safeway's April promotion to benefit individuals with disabilities,” said Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics. “We hope that this is just the beginning of a long partnership with Safeway as we look for their generous support in changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, along with creating more harmonious communities around the world - places where each person, regardless of ability or disability, is accepted and welcomed and where every individual contributes to the strength and vibrancy of the whole.”
Safeway organized in-store fundraising during the month of April to rally staff and customers to donate by having courtesy clerks ask customers if they'd like to donate a dollar to benefit individuals with disabilities at the checkout stands. Throughout April, Safeway stores in 21 states worked with local Special Olympics programs to raise awareness for the promotion. With campaigns each April and August, Safeway said that over the years it has raised more than $100 million to support organizations and working with people with disabilities, including Easter Seals, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Augie's Quest and Special Olympics.
This year's campaign began at the remodeled lifestyle store at the Alameda Towne Centre in California with a celebrity bagging competition that included Shriver, Special Olympics International Board Director and Olympic gold medal gymnast Bart Conner and former Los Angeles Laker star Sam Perkins.
Safeway's dedication to benefiting individuals with disabilities has spanned much of Burd's 15 year tenure as president and CEO of Safeway. Burd has increased his company's hiring of people with mental and/or physical disabilities. Today, they comprise about 5 percent of Safeway's work force, or about 10,000 employees.
Burd said they are employed in a wide array of jobs throughout the company, including as courtesy clerks, baggers and checkers in Safeway's 1,743 North American stores, and in office jobs at divisional offices or corporate headquarters in Pleasanton.
"We have hired (disabled) people from all different backgrounds, including college graduates, for many different kinds of jobs," said Burd. "Because it is such a challenge for people with disabilities to find jobs, they become incredibly loyal workers who show up each and every day. When you manage a store, you spend a lot of time each day hoping all of your staff shows up for work. These are people who are good, capable, reliable employees who make a great contribution to our business."
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 1,738 stores in the United States and western Canada and had annual sales of $40.2 billion in 2006. Safeway supports a broad range of charitable and community programs and in 2007 donated more than $172 million to important causes, such as cancer research, education, food banks and programs focused on assisting people with disabilities. The company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY. For more information about Safeway, visit http://www.safeway.com/.
|
