Press Releases

MONTEREY, Calif. - First Night Monterey is extremely pleased and excited to announce that Safeway is the new primary button vendor for its New Year's Eve celebration. First Night Monterey takes pride in bringing families together and uniting our community in all its diversity through the visual and performing arts.

Thom Diggins, President of First Night Monterey said, "We greatly appreciate the commitment that Safeway and its employees have made to this outstanding community event. Safeway continues to be a good neighbor to the Monterey area."

First Night Monterey admission buttons will be available at all Safeway stores in Monterey County. Buttons are priced at $10 through December 30, 2003 and $15 on December 31, 2003. The admission button is an outstanding entertainment value that allows access to more than 125 performances consisting of musical genres, spoken word, dance, theatrical presentations, and interactive art exhibitions. First Night lasts over a nine-hour time period throughout more than 35 venues in downtown Monterey. The programs are designed to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds and to broaden and deepen public appreciation of the arts.

"Safeway firmly believes in helping the communities where we live and work, and we are proud to have the opportunity to support First Night. Participating in this event not only helps support the arts, it brings everyone in the Monterey community together," said Alexander Winslow, Director of Public Affairs for Safeway's Northern California Division.

The admission buttons provide a major source of revenue for First Night Monterey, allowing participants to have a safe, alcohol-free, family-oriented New Year's Eve celebration for all residents of Monterey County.

For more information about First Night Monterey, visit www.firstnightmonterey.org.

Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 50 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America based on sales. Safeway operates 1,702 stores in the United States and western Canada, and had annual sales of $32.4 billion from continuing operations in 2002. The company's stock is traded on the New York Exchange under the symbol SWY.