With childhood obesity at an all-time high, The Safeway Foundation has donated $97,800 to Early Learning Ventures, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to quality child care programs in Colorado. The grant was used to produce a set of licensing-approved training DVDs that were distributed to 2,100 licensed child care centers and will be available online to reach over 3,000 licensed family child care programs. The videos, which include Safeway's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kent Bradley, provide training to promote effective wellness and parent education initiatives to combat childhood obesity.

Safeway was honored to present a check for $367,000 to the Easter Seals as part of their fundraising gala on Nov. 30th in Denver. The money was raised during a month-long fundraiser in Safeway stores and will benefit children and adults with disabilities by providing them with important services, education and advocacy.

Safeway honored military veterans and wounded service members at the University of Colorado football game on Nov. 16, including representatives from the Wounded Warrior Project, Kevin Baker and Mark Dervaes, as well as Matt Hulbert, Safeway’s Bread Plant supervisor and a former military officer. At the game, Safeway also announced results of the 2012 Veteran's Day weekend fundraiser, which raised over $1 million. Thanks to our generous customers!

Don Grambusch, Denver Distribution Center Director, led a team of 40 Safeway volunteers at a disabled Denver Veteran's home as part of the Rebuilding Together home repair project. Don and his crew painted every wall inside the house, completed a full kitchen remodel, installed carpeting and landscaped the front yard. The project took well over 15 hours to complete and the work was challenging. The homeowner is looking forward to having his 16 year old daughter visit this summer.

District Manager Jay Gomez teamed up with Store Manager, Joe Sparks, and employees from store #2667 in Cheyenne, Wyoming to present a check for $26,000 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in Wyoming. The funds represent money raised in Cheyenne for the Division's 2011 in-store fundraiser supporting breast cancer research and awareness. Pennies, nickels, dimes…it all adds up. Special thanks to the employees and customers in Wyoming.

Safeway was honored last night by the Public Relations Society of America’s Colorado Chapter with a Gold Pick Award. Safeway received the top award in the Media Relations category for our annual Media Employee Bagging Challenge/People with Disabilities fundraising campaign launch. Way to go, Denver team!

The 5th annual media/employee bagging challenge competition at Denver store #2714 helped kick off Safeway's annual fundraiser for people with disabilities. Last week, pairs of eight local media personalities with Easter Seals clients and Safeway-employed Special Olympics athletes went head-to-head. The goal was to pack a cart full of groceries in the fastest time, using some tender loving care. The event drew more than 150 spectators, employees and friends of Easter Seals and Special Olympics. CBS4’s Lauren Whitney, a "rookie" to the competition took first place with veteran Safeway employee Richard Chase (store #2911 in Boulder.) The event generated dozens of news stories across the metro area.

Our Denver Division teamed up with Neil Duncan, a Denver Veteran and recipient of Wounded Warrior services, to talk about the growing number of younger Veterans who have returned from combat and live in Colorado. These men and women are in need of programs and support as they try to move past their injuries and begin civilian life.

Neil was injured in Eastern Afghanistan and, among other injuries, lost both his legs. With advancements in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of service members are surviving severe wounds and injuries — and the numbers are increasing daily. For every soldier killed, seven are severely wounded.