Working through its local Programs in the United States, Special Olympics is part of Safeway's customer fundraising campaign for people with disabilities.
In 2008 Safeway Inc., one of the United States’ leading retailers, added Special Olympics as a beneficiary of its successful April customer fundraising campaign for people with disabilities. The campaign takes place in all 21 U.S. states in which Safeway does business; throughout the month of April shoppers are asked at checkout if they would like to donate $1 or more to support people with disabilities.
On 2 April 2009, leadership, employees and Special Olympics athletes gathered at a Safeway store in Washington, DC, USA, to kick off the second year of the partnership and the fundraising campaign. The event began with the Special Olympics Flame of Hope being carried to the store by law enforcement officers. Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), former Texas Rep. Steve Bartlett (R-Texas), U.S. Olympic gold medalists Dominique Dawes and Carly Patterson, and Pete Romero, onetime U.S. ambassador to Ecuador, urged community support of the organizations and recognized Safeway for its leadership in employing people with disabilities. Safeway employs nearly 10,000 people with physical or intellectual disabilities.
In 2009 the campaign raised $11.2 million to benefit individuals with disabilities in the United States. The campaign provided a platform for local Special Olympics Programs in the 21 states to collaborate with their local Safeway stores to raise awareness for the promotion.