Agent and Employee-Directed Contributions Create Economic Opportunity Through
Education, Training and Small Business Development Globally
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., -- (Dec. 21, 2011) – The Western Union Foundation today announced a series of direct grants totaling more than US$3.4 million that foster economic opportunity through education, training and small business development globally. Recognized for its innovative giving programs, the Western Union Foundation takes a collaborative approach to identifying grant recipients by engaging Western Union employees and Agents in the grant giving process through their recommendations and donations.
The Foundation encourages Agent involvement in the company’s philanthropic activities through giving circles where it matches Agent contributions dollar-for-dollar and pools those dollars for greater social impact, and by inviting employees of Western Union’s top performing Agents to nominate non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for funding consideration.
During this grant-making cycle, more than US$2.3 million is a direct result of Agent giving and the Foundation match. Additionally, the Western Union Foundation expanded the program that allows Agent’s employees to recommend deserving NGOs for funding. This year, these Agent’s representatives nominated 70 NGOs and 19 were selected to each receive US$10,000 grants.
This same type of collaboration is encouraged with Western Union’s own employees, empowering them to directly influence the work of the Foundation around the world, which responded to employee-directed requests in Argentina, Austria, Costa Rica, India, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States. The resulting grants will make a positive difference in the regions, countries and neighborhoods Western Union employees call home.
“Western Union Agents and employees are powerful advocates of the charitable work we do around the world,” said Luella Chavez D'Angelo, president of the Western Union Foundation. “As the feet on the street in the communities we serve, their insight is invaluable in identifying organizations deserving support,”
Agent Directed Giving
A regional representation of NGOs recommended by Western Union Agents’ employees and receiving US$10,000 grants include:
Africa: The Farm Community Trust of Zimbabwe works to increase access to education, vocational skills and psychological support systems to vulnerable children.
United States: Refugee One provides job training, job readiness and placement services to refugees resettled in the Chicago area.
Latin America: MOVE provides education and economic development in 17 Dominican Republic provinces. The Children’s Centre in Jamaica creates training courses that help prepare individuals for entrepreneurial opportunities and jobs in hospitality.
Asia Pacific: Project 101, Inc. in the Philippines supports training workshops to teach parents how to read with their children and promote literacy.
Europe: Live, Grow and Integrate in Portugal helps immigrants learn to read and speak Portuguese, and it also provides immigrant children with computer training and tutoring.
Employee Directed Giving
The Foundation also is supporting several non-profit organizations recommended by Western Union employees that include:
Middle East: Al Noor Training Center in UAE prepares young adults to transition from school to work by matching their skills and talents to meaningful job opportunities. Western Union employees raised funds, which were matched by the Foundation and added to an additional grant for a total contribution of US$27,286.
Canada: Skills for Change of Metro Toronto received US$10,000 to help immigrants transition into the workforce. The organization is also supported through the financial contributions of Western Union employees in Canada.
Mexico: Fundación Pro Empleo Productivo A.C. received US$10,000 to provide entrepreneurship training for individuals interested in microenterprise. Western Union employees also volunteered time with this organization.
Costa Rica: Fundación Para el Desarrollo Integral de los Jovenes received US$10,000 to provide college scholarships to low-income youth.
About the Western Union Foundation
Through Western Union's Our World, Our Family® signature program, the Western Union Foundation supports initiatives to empower people through access to economic opportunity. Recognized by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy in 2009, the program is a five-year, $50 million commitment reflecting efforts made by Western Union employees, agents and partners around the world. Since its inception, the Western Union Foundation has awarded more than $73.8 million in grants to 2033 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in 120 countries and territories. To learn more, visit http://foundation.westernunion.com