The
Western Union Foundation today announced it has surpassed a major
milestone, donating
more than US$100 million in support to more than 2,700
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide support to thousands of
families and individuals in more than 135 countries and territories.
The Western Union Foundation works with a full spectrum of large global
NGOs to small local non-profits and charities worldwide including
UNICEF, Save the Children, Mercy Corps, Pratham and others.
From increasing global access to school and improving the quality of
education to providing relief and rebuilding efforts for families and
communities impacted by disasters worldwide, the Western Union
Foundation has supported charitable organizations dedicated to providing
a better future for individuals, families and communities throughout the
world (video).
“Western Union is in the business of enhancing the lives of consumers by
providing better ways to move money to their family, friends and
business partners in more than 200 countries and territories,” said
Hikmet Ersek, president and CEO, Western Union. “I am especially proud
to celebrate this milestone of the Western Union Foundation with our
Western Union Agents, employees and NGO partners that have truly helped
the Foundation create a better world.”
Patrick Gaston, president, the Western Union Foundation, added, “We are
so proud to celebrate this milestone with organizations that have
partnered with us through the years to ensure the Foundation’s
contributions are improving the lives of countless individuals
worldwide. This remarkable achievement says a great deal about not only
the power
of partnership with NGOs, small local non-profits, and charities around
the world, but the tireless support from the more than 500 Western
Union Agents and thousands of Western Union employees who gave their
time and money to support our mission.”
In 2013 and 2014, more than 72 percent of all Western Union employees,
or 7,580 employees across 53 countries, made a donation to the Western
Union Foundation. In addition, the Foundation has partnered with
hundreds of Western Union Agents and vendor partners to create a true
collaborative partnership instrumental in reaching this milestone.
Education
Education plays a powerful role in changing people’s lives for better –
translating into stronger, more resilient communities and economies
worldwide. These are the reasons why Western Union and the Western Union
Foundation established Education for Better, a three-year commitment to
education. Unveiled during the launch of the UN Education First
initiative in September 2012, Education for Better leverages Western
Union shared value products and services, cause marketing, advocacy,
corporate and Western Union Foundation strategic philanthropy, employee
engagement, and communications to support secondary and vocational
education programs around the world. To date, the Western Union
Education for Better has provided more than US$11.6 million to enhance
education efforts for an estimated 500,000 students and teachers worldwide,
including:
-
PASS
Initiative: Launched in May 2013, The Western Union Company, the
Western Union Foundation and UNICEF teamed up to harness the power of
sports through Western Union’s partnership with the UEFA Europa League
to build global awareness of the need for greater investment in
education. As the global partner of the UEFA Europa League, Western
Union committed to turning every successful pass through its
sponsorship of the competition, into funds to enable access for
children to one million days of education. To achieve this goal,
Western Union has committed to a $1.8 million, three-year grant
through the Western Union Foundation to support UNICEF education
programs in 10 countries. Now in its third year, PASS Initiative grant
funding has already supported UNICEF education programs in Jamaica,
Nigeria, Turkey, Brazil, Senegal, Morocco and China, with support for
programs in Colombia, Mexico and Romania scheduled to begin later this
year.
-
Teach
For All Global Partnership: Initially started in 2013, the Western
Union Foundation has committed more than US$750,000 to support Teach
For All and their mission to expand educational opportunity across the
globe. In addition, the Foundation has also committed an additional
US$200,000 to support Teach For All Network partners in Mexico, India,
the United Kingdom, Austria, Argentina, and Australia. The 36 partner
organizations in Teach For All’s global network are currently fielding
more than 16,000 teachers and reaching over one million students.
Disaster Relief & Emergency Situations
When a natural disaster strikes and emergencies happen, the Western
Union Foundation works with numerous relief organizations to help
individuals and families rebuild their lives. To date, the Foundation
has supported more than 140 disaster relief operations in 65 countries
worldwide, including:
-
Nepal
Earthquake Relief: The Western Union Foundation is committing
US$200,000 to support the relief efforts through discretionary and
matching grants in partnership with Western Union employees, Agents,
and business customers.
-
Ebola
Virus Outbreak Challenge: In December 2014, the Western Union
Foundation issued a challenge to the business community and general
public to support the relief efforts in West Africa by providing more
than US$500,000 in matching funds to Save the Children and
International Medical Corps.
-
Hurricane
Sandy: In 2012, the Western Union Foundation again partnered with
Western Union Agents and employees in the U.S. to provide more than
US$660,000 toward the American Red Cross and the IFRC’s relief efforts
in the United States northeast and parts of the Caribbean.
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 $101.1 million in grants and other giving.
These funds have been pledged to more than 2,739 non-governmental
organizations in more than 135 countries and territories. The Western
Union Foundation is a separate §501(c)(3) recognized United States
charity. To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org,
or follow us on Twitter @TheWUFoundation.
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Copyright Business Wire 2015