By Kathy Engle, Vitals Contributor
A simple act at the grocery store checkout is making a profound impact on breast cancer care across Northern California. This year, the Safeway Foundation awarded $90,500 to six Sutter Health care centers, continuing its annual Cancer Research and Treatment campaign that channels community donations directly into patient programs and services.
Funding from 2025 grants will support services at Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Sutter’s Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital, Sutter Roseville Medical Center, Sutter’s Palo Alto Medical Foundation Santa Cruz, and Sutter Lakeside Hospital—spanning communities from Lake County to Santa Cruz and the Greater Sacramento region.
“It is exciting to see patients across the Sutter Health footprint experience this tremendous generosity in our communities,” says Raya Elias-Petros, chief philanthropy officer at Sutter Health. “This long-standing partnership with Safeway helps to expand access to services and fuel healthier communities.”
Delivering Hope for Breast Cancer Patients
Since 2018, the Safeway Foundation has contributed a total of $753,000 to Sutter’s breast cancer programs, helping to accelerate screenings, provide advanced diagnostics, expand navigation services and treatment for thousands of patients.
Treatment for one breast cancer patient typically includes mammography, nuclear medicine, diagnostic and molecular pathology, surgery, cancer therapy, physical therapy, integrative interventions and survivor support.
“I experienced a remarkably well-integrated and seamless hospital experience where the healing hands laid on me transformed me from cancer victim to survivor. It’s an experience that I will long remember and share often,” said Alta Bates Summit patient Shanaz Dairkee.
With one in eight women facing a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, Sutter remains committed to early detection, prevention and improving survival rates. Thanks to the generosity of Safeway shoppers, that mission continues to grow stronger.
