Safeway's gift: $960,000 for breast cancer research

The breast cancer clinical care and research programs at the Hutchinson Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and the University of Washington collectively will receive $960,000 from the Seattle Division of Safeway Inc. as a result of the company’s annual fundraising campaign last October. The largest single donation, $300,000, will go toward the operation of the SCCA’s mobile mammography van.
 
Other programs and researchers receive funding are:

• Dr. Peggy Porter: $135,000. Porter leads the Hutchinson Center/UW Cancer Center Program in Breast Cancer Research.
• Drs. Stan Riddell and Lupe Salazar: $150,000.
• Dr. Peter Neligan: $100,000. Neligan is professor of surgery and director, Center for Reconstructive Surgery.
• Dr. Jennifer Specht: $50,000 for research of inflammatory breast cancer at the UW and SCCA.
• Dr. Sarah Javid: $25,000 for research on breast surgery.
• Dr. Hannah Linden: $75,000 for researching breast cancer in minority populations at Harborview Medical Center.
• Junior Researchers: $50,000 for a pilot program for breast cancer research through the Hutchinson Center, UW and the SCCA.
• University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Harborview Medical Center: $75,000 ($25,000 to each) for other projects.

The success of Safeway’s monthlong fundraising campaign was a result of customers, employees and suppliers joining together in making donations to help find a cure and bring awareness to the devastating disease that impacts millions of women and families each year. Since 2001, Safeway’s Seattle Division has raised more than $8.3 million for breast cancer research efforts.
 
“Safeway customers and employees have defined what it means to be passionate about something they truly believe in,” said Cherié Myers, director of public & government affairs for the Seattle Division of Safeway Inc. “The overwhelming support we received throughout our fund-raising campaign only strengthens our commitment to work toward the day when medical research can find a cure for breast cancer. Our donation of $1,324,977.77 from our 117 stores in Western Washington reflects the passion and true spirit of giving shown by our customers and employees who believe the opportunity exists to find a cure within our lifetime.”