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

Largest single donation goes to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance mobile mammography van program

Photo by Dean Forbes Safeway donated $300,000 toward the operation of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance's mobile mammogram van, pictured at University of Washington Physicians, Issaquah.

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.”