SAN FRANCISCO, Jul 14, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Safeway Inc. is joining together with its Chairman, President and CEO Steve Burd and his wife, Chris, to contribute $2.5 million to fund a Distinguished Professorship in Prostate Cancer Research at the University of California, San Francisco.

In recognition of the gift, the Burds were honored today at a special event at the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center. The UCSF Center now ranks first among all cancer centers in California and fourth nationally in National Cancer Institute (NCI) research support. The Safeway gift will make it possible to recruit a stellar prostate cancer scientist to focus on uncovering better detection methods, develop better treatment options, and improve survival rates for patients.

Prostate cancer is the major focus of the UCSF Urologic Oncology Research program. The disease is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. among males over 55. Every year 220,000 men get prostate cancer. One new case is diagnosed every three minutes.

"UCSF is in Safeway's backyard, and it is the best center in the country for research and innovative treatment for prostate cancer," said Mr. Burd. "We appreciate the opportunity to assist this institution's important mission."

Safeway is among the largest corporate fundraisers for prostate cancer research. During June 2004 the company raised more than $3.5 million for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Since 2000 Safeway has raised and donated nearly $8 million to prostate cancer research. The company annually dedicates the month of June to an intensive four-week fundraising effort that combines employee events with customer fundraising at checkstands in more than 1,500 Safeway stores throughout the U.S.

"This is an important gift that will mean a great deal to the university's research effort," said Dr. Peter Carroll, Professor and Chair of the UCSF Department of Urology and a nationally recognized specialist in prostate cancer. "We appreciate the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Burd and the employees and customers at Safeway."

About Safeway: Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 50 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America based on sales. The company operates 1,808 stores in the United States and Canada and had annual sales of $35.6 billion in 2003. The company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY.

About the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center: Housed within one of the nation's top biomedical research universities, the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center brings together hundreds of researchers and clinicians dedicated to four fundamental pursuits: basic science research into the causes and events of cancer's progression; clinical research to translate new knowledge into viable treatments; sensitive, state-of-the-art patient care; and programs in epidemiology, prevention, and cancer control.

About the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF): The Foundation is the world's largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research. Founded in 1993, the PCF has raised more than $210 million and provided funding for prostate cancer research to more than 1,100 researchers at 100 institutions worldwide. The PCF has a simple yet urgent goal: find better treatments and a cure for recurrent prostate cancer.

SOURCE: Safeway Inc.

Safeway Inc.
Brian Dowling, 925-467-3787