Total Investments increase support for more than 820,000 individuals across 137 countries
February 25, DENVER, Colo, – Today, the Western Union Foundation announces the release of its global 2018 Impact Report. The report highlights key philanthropic programs making significant strides to connect underserved populations to the global economy through workforce training, WU Scholars, disaster relief and employee engagement.
“We are guided by the belief that education is the surest pathway to creating economic opportunity that is inclusive for all,” Executive Director of the Western Union Foundation, Elizabeth Roscoe said. “Our mission is fueled by this principle. The Western Union Foundation, along with Western Union employees, agents and customers are proud of our global reach, and together strive to lift up vulnerable populations, giving them the tools to succeed in the global economy.”
- Workforce Training: The Western Union Foundation’s signature workforce training program, Education for Better has committed to provide 50,000 migrants, refugees, women and youth with transformational 21st century job skills by the year 2020. The multi-year commitment is supported by strategic partnerships and programs with 53 non-governmental organizations, including Education for Employment, Junior Achievement, Re:Coded, Boy With a Ball and the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative. In total, the Education for Better initiative has provided educational opportunities for more than 100,000 individuals since inception.
- WU Scholars: In its second year, WU Scholars, a global scholarship program continued support for students pursuing a post-secondary education in the areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), business and entrepreneurship. In 2018, 164 scholarships were awarded to students across 56 countries based on their accomplishments and personal goals related to the program’s three pillars: perseverance, aspiration, and community.
- Employee Engagement: A record 84% of Western Union employees from around the world chose to finically support the Foundation’s work in 2018. Their support also came in the form of more than 15,000 volunteer hours.
“The Western Union Foundation could not be as ambitious or effective if Western Union’s global workforce didn’t wholeheartedly share our passion,” Chief Compliance Officer and Chair of the Western Union Foundation Board, Jacqueline Molnar said. “Through the Foundation’s work, we have been able to positivity impact the lives of 11,600 people in 2018, by comparison nearly the same number of employees who work at Western Union.”
To learn more about the Western Union Foundation visit our website wu.com/foundation. To view the 2018 Impact Report in its entirety, visit: http://on.wu.com/WUF2018Impact.
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About the Western Union Foundation
The Western Union Foundation believes that education is one of the surest pathways to economic opportunity. Through collaborations with NGOs around the world, the Foundation has embarked on a mission to connect 50,000 migrants, refugees, women and youth to the global economy through demand-driven skills training and workforce enablement programs by 2020. The Foundation also offers a global scholarship program that helps put a post-secondary education in reach for in-need students studying in the STEM fields and business. To date, more than $119 million has been given to fund projects affecting more than 820,000 people in 137 countries across the globe, including disaster relief for communities in crisis. The Western Union Foundation is a separate charitable corporation that is tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code, and receives support from The Western Union Company, its employees, agents and business partners. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible for US income tax purposes. To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org or follow us on Twitter @TheWUFoundation.
Media Contact:
Rachel Rogala, Western Union
+1 (303) 808-2674, Rachel.Rogala@wu.com