Is Bitcoin really this safe with all this hacking going on?
I really need to know before I throw a ton of money towards it.
Don't bother throwing a ton of money at it.
Use a small amount to get started and get familiar and comfortable with the security knowledge and procedures that you need to know then upscale your investment if you're happy about it. There's some good information on this thread already about cold storage, offline wallets, etc so get your head around that and choose a solution that is right for you.
Wondering if "Bitcoin is safe with all this hacking going on" is your mind's way of questioning what you need to keep your bitcoins safe - figure that out then you'll know the answer to your question.

You really do not need to "throw" any money at bitcoin prior to learning about proper security techniques. All you really need to do is spend some time leaning about how to properly secure your bitcoin and what mistakes people have made in the past (so you do not make the same mistakes)