Vons officials present a gift of nearly $58,000 to City of Hope. From left, Daymond Rice and Gary Rocheleau of Vons, Cheryl Kennick and I. Benjamin Paz, M.D., of City of Hope, Mike Stephens of Vons, state Assemblymember AnthonyPortantino, and Jim Buchanan of Vons recently attended a check ceremony at a Pavilions market in Monrovia, Calif.

Employees and customers raised the money as part of an annual campaign by Vons, a division of Safeway, to supportnonprofit groups such as City of Hope that advance improved education, care and treatment for breast cancer. Throughout October 2006, customers gave donations at check stands at Vons and Pavilions stores; last year, Vons employees and customers in California and Nevada raised more than $1.8 million in contributions for these nonprofit groups.