The
Western Union Company today announced a multi-faceted program to
provide support for disaster-relief efforts for the families and
communities most affected by flooding
in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.
The program includes grant funding from The Western Union Foundation, as
well as Western Union® employee and retail Agent giving
elements.
International Consumer Activation
In the United States, Western Union has set up a no-fee Payments
contribution account benefiting the American
Red Cross to support international relief efforts in Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Serbia. Donors in the United States can contribute by
making a no-fee Payments transaction at www.wu.com,
directed to the account, up to US$5,000.
Western Union Foundation Grant Activity
The Western Union Foundation is making a grant of US$75,000 to the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support
the organization’s immediate response activities in the region, which
include providing emergency materials, shelter, meals and water to
disaster victims.
Employee and Agent Activation
To encourage and support additional philanthropy, through May 30, 2014,
The Western Union Foundation will match qualifying Western Union
employee donations to the Foundation’s Flooding
Disaster Relief Fund, which benefits the IFRC’s efforts in the
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.
Western Union is also encouraging its Agents and business partners to
join together in supporting relief efforts. Under the Western Union
Foundation Business Partner Giving program, the Foundation will provide
a dollar-for-dollar match of qualifying Agent contributions to NGOs that
provide disaster-relief support in the impacted region.
“The flooding throughout this region is the worst in the area in more
than 100 years, with reports that thousands of people have been
displaced from their homes and of billions of dollars in property
damage. Western Union is responding with support for relief efforts in
the immediate aftermath of the disaster, including programs that provide
meals, water and emergency materials to the families and children most
affected by the flooding in the region,” said Patrick Gaston, president
of The Western Union Foundation.
“We are committed to helping the communities we serve, and our thoughts
are with the people affected and their extended community around the
world during this time of need.”
Due to the severity of flooding in the area, some Western Union Agent
locations in the region may not be immediately operational or possess
sufficient funds.
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment
services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western
Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union
provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient
ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to
purchase money orders. As of March 31, 2013, the Western Union, Vigo and
Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network
of over 500,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and
over 100,000 ATMs. In 2013, The Western Union Company completed 242
million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $82 billion
of principal between consumers, and 459 million business payments. For
more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
About The Western Union Foundation
The Western Union Foundation is dedicated to creating a better world,
where the ability to realize dreams through economic opportunity is not
just a privilege for the few but a right for all. Through its signature
program, Education for Better, and with the support of The Western Union
Company, its employees, Agents, and business partners, The Western Union
Foundation works to realize this vision by supporting education and
disaster relief efforts as pathways toward a better future. Our combined
social ventures efforts make life better for individuals, families and
communities around the world. Since its inception, The Western Union
Foundation has paid more than $96.0 million in grants and other giving.
These funds have been pledged to more than 2,720 nongovernmental
organizations in more than 133 countries and territories. The Western
Union Foundation is a separate §501(c)(3) recognized United States
charity. To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org.
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Copyright Business Wire 2014