Safeway kicks off annual breast cancer awareness campaign

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway's annual fundraising initiative to benefit breast cancer research once again has commenced.

Each October, Safeway's nearly 1,700 stores in the United States and Canada host a variety of breast cancer fundraising activities. In addition to providing customers with opportunities to donate at checkout, Safeway and a number of its suppliers get involved by donating $5-for-every-$30 spent on products with special pink ribbon tags. Safeway also sells special pink breast cancer reusable bags of which a dollar from each sale goes to the cause, the chain said.

The company has raised more than $94 million for the cause since 2001.

"More than 230,000 women in the U.S. alone will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year," said Larree Renda, Safeway EVP, Safeway Health president and Safeway Foundation chair. "Thanks to the engagement and generosity of our employees, customers and suppliers, we are funding projects and programs that will continue to have a meaningful impact on breast cancer cure rates."