Record-Setting $2.4 Million to Seattle Children’s Hospital to Benefit Strong Against Cancer

Strong Together. Strong Against Cancer.

Teamwork. Partnership. Community. That’s how we did it. Together we were able to present a record-setting $2.4 million to Seattle Children’s Hospital directly benefiting its Strong Against Cancer initiative.

More than one million Safeway and Albertsons customers across Washington and Alaska “pressed yes” at the check stand, joining hundreds of partners and supporters who participated in the Foundation’s annual Wilson Celebrity Invitation Golf Tournament to raise funds and raise awareness of the break-through work being done at Seattle Children’s.

Russell was joined on the field by Carly Young, Executive Director of the Why Not You Foundation, Karl Schroeder, President of Safeway, and Dr. Gary Kaplan, CEO of Virginia Mason, to present the check to Dr. Mike Jensen and Milton Wright from Seattle Children’s Hospital. 

Milton, though, is more than a staff member at Seattle Children’s Hospital, he is also one of the most inspirational patients that Russell has met during his many visits to the hospital. Diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 8, Milton first met Russell in 2013 as he fought the disease for the third time at the age of 19.  At that moment, Milton was about to become the second patient in a new clinical T-cell therapy trial which literally saved his life. 

It’s only fitting that Milton accepted the check as the funds will go directly to supporting more research and innovative trials at Seattle Children’s Hospital that will build on Milton’s personal success and help save many more lives. 

Thank you to our presenting sponsor,  Safeway and Albertsons, and presenting partners: Young’s Market Company, Virginia Mason, Financial Advocates, Regence, WheelsUp and Alaska Airlines.  

To learn more about Seattle Children’s and Strong Against Cancer, visit strongagainstcancer.org.