Safeway Earns Easter Seals' All-Time Top Corporate Partner Designation
First Company to Surpass $100 Million Contribution Mark to Support Families Living with Autism and Other Disabilities
May 21, 2009
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CHICAGO, May 21, 2009 — Safeway (NYSE: SWY) captures Easter Seals highest honor after raising a record $10.2 million for the organizations' services for children and adults with autism and other disabilities in 2009 alone and by exceeding the $100 million milestone for lifetime contributions. The national nonprofit recently designated Safeway its "All-Time Top Corporate Partner" during an awards ceremony recognizing Easter Seals' entire family of corporate partners.
This past April, for the fourth year, Safeway stores in the U.S. and Canada raised funds for people with disabilities, inviting customers to support Easter Seals services for children and adults with autism and other disabilities at checkout. The campaign coincided with Autism Awareness Month and Easter Seals' efforts to raise awareness about the services and treatments the organization provides to families living with autism.
In just one month, Safeway raised $8,824,141 through the April in-store fundraiser. Safeway employees also raised an additional $1.4 million through local market events, golf tournaments, galas and fundraisers -- bringing the company's 2009 grand total for Easter Seals services to $10.2 million.
Safeway's Impact on Families Living with Autism and Other Disabilities
"Ten million dollars can literally change the lives of thousands -- and it does," says James E. Williams, Jr., president and chief executive officer, Easter Seals. "Safeway's commitment to Easter Seals and the millions of families we serve runs far beyond the annual fundraising campaign -- it's business. Today, the company employs more than 10,000 adults with disabilities, giving many a career and a means to live independently."
This year, funds raised will support a variety of Easter Seals services across the country for families living with autism including:
* In California, job training and employment opportunities, pre-school and after-school services, independent living options that keep people in their own homes instead of institutions, services that help adults learn daily living and social skills that most of us take for granted, and early and intensive intervention for toddlers recently diagnosed with autism.
* In Colorado, a series of family camp retreats and respite programs for families living with autism to relax and play together and formalized assistance for families when their children with autism transition in and out of school -- an incredibly challenging time especially for young adults with autism trying to enter the workforce and live independently.
* In Texas, scholarships for critical therapy services for those families that are unable to afford the cost of high-quality physical, occupational, and speech-language therapies and programs to help adults obtain and maintain employment through careful job placement, job coaching and long-term follow up and support.
This past April, for the fourth year, Safeway stores in the U.S. and Canada raised funds for people with disabilities, inviting customers to support Easter Seals services for children and adults with autism and other disabilities at checkout. The campaign coincided with Autism Awareness Month and Easter Seals' efforts to raise awareness about the services and treatments the organization provides to families living with autism.
In just one month, Safeway raised $8,824,141 through the April in-store fundraiser. Safeway employees also raised an additional $1.4 million through local market events, golf tournaments, galas and fundraisers -- bringing the company's 2009 grand total for Easter Seals services to $10.2 million.
Safeway's Impact on Families Living with Autism and Other Disabilities
"Ten million dollars can literally change the lives of thousands -- and it does," says James E. Williams, Jr., president and chief executive officer, Easter Seals. "Safeway's commitment to Easter Seals and the millions of families we serve runs far beyond the annual fundraising campaign -- it's business. Today, the company employs more than 10,000 adults with disabilities, giving many a career and a means to live independently."
This year, funds raised will support a variety of Easter Seals services across the country for families living with autism including:
* In California, job training and employment opportunities, pre-school and after-school services, independent living options that keep people in their own homes instead of institutions, services that help adults learn daily living and social skills that most of us take for granted, and early and intensive intervention for toddlers recently diagnosed with autism.
* In Colorado, a series of family camp retreats and respite programs for families living with autism to relax and play together and formalized assistance for families when their children with autism transition in and out of school -- an incredibly challenging time especially for young adults with autism trying to enter the workforce and live independently.
* In Texas, scholarships for critical therapy services for those families that are unable to afford the cost of high-quality physical, occupational, and speech-language therapies and programs to help adults obtain and maintain employment through careful job placement, job coaching and long-term follow up and support.
Companies Mentioned:
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