At Safeway, the foundation of our business has always been rooted in meaningful relationships with the communities we serve. While we’ve created many traditions over the years, one we are most proud of is our commitment to giving back.

One of our treasured and longest-standing partnerships is with Special Olympics British Columbia (SOBC). As we proudly celebrate 30 years with SOBC, we’re taking a look back at what started it all.

In 1989, Safeway and Coca-Cola Canada joined forces to raise funds for SOBC by donating 25 cents from every six-pack of Coca-Cola sold in stores across the province during the month of March, which was proclaimed as Special Olympics month by the provincial government. Our campaign was a resounding success, raising more than $40,000 for SOBC! Over the next four years, the campaign raised more than $125,000 to support SOBC’s growth during a crucial time in their development.

Today, Sobeys Inc, remains a strong supporter of Special Olympics athletes. To date, together with our customers and teams, Sobeys Inc. has contributed more than $2.8 million in support of nutrition education, food access, and local community programming through Special Olympics.

We are so proud to be a driving force in defining the Special Olympics movement in Canada. In addition to raising vital funds for SOBC programs, our campaigns offer an important opportunity to raise awareness for Special Olympics, and help to spread a message of acceptance and inclusion across the globe. Thank you to our teams who continue to join us on this journey!