CONFEMEX Pledges Additional $45,000 Boosting Scholarship Contribution Grand Total to $135,000

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., & CHICAGO, Jun 12, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Following through on its commitment to empower communities by way of education and global economic opportunity programs, The Western Union Foundation and Western Union Agent, Irv Barr Management, today donated $90,000 to The Confederation of Mexican Federations (CONFEMEX) scholarship program through the Foundation's Agent Giving Circle program.

CONFEMEX, an immigrant led membership organization formed by nine Mexican hometown federations based in Chicago, also has pledged to contribute an additional $45,000, boosting the scholarship contribution grand total to $135,000.

The Foundation's Agent Giving Circle program matches one-for-one Agent donations to eligible nonprofit organizations in support of programs such as the CONFEMEX scholarship program in support of students living in underserved communities.

"Education is one of Western Union's Our World, Our Family^(R) key funding priorities," said Western Union Foundation President, Luella Chavez-D'Angelo. "Western Union recognizes the core value of learning, and that education is one of the most important tools to improve the quality of life of individuals and communities."

The Western Union Foundation and Irv Barr Management grant to CONFEMEX will help provide college students with $1,000 scholarships.

Arcadio Delgado President, CONFEMEX added, "Education is a key priority to CONFEMEX. With the Foundation's support and that of its Agent, the grant will help invest in our community and its future while helping develop a new generation of leaders. We are grateful for Western Union's and its Foundation's continued support in the communities it serves, particularly our students who strive each and everyday to succeed in school."

CONFEMEX hometown federations include: Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Michoacán, Oaxaca and Zacatecas.

Western Union's Our World, Our Family^(R) program is a five-year, $50 million signature program designed to provide communities with the skills, knowledge and resources essential to breaking the cycle of poverty. The program is framed around four areas: Our World Gives; Our World Learns; Our World Strives and Our World Speaks. Through grant awards, each program area is given equal attention towards helping families across the globe continue stay connected, overcome barriers and realize their dreams.

In 2008, the Western Union Foundation awarded grants to 276 organizations in more than 75 countries and territories, totaling approximately $9.1 million in grants. The grants supported causes from natural disaster relief to fostering educational opportunities in communities around the world.

About the Western Union Foundation

Through the donations of The Western Union Company, its employees and Agents, the Western Union Foundation helps to fund programs that create economic opportunity around the world. Embracing the truly global nature of its corporate sponsor, the Western Union Foundation has granted almost $53 million to more than 1,840 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in 100 countries. Its signature giving program, Western Union's Our World, Our Family^(R), is a $50 million, five-year commitment reaching people at every rung of the economic ladder. Through Our World, Our Family, the Western Union Foundation is helping migrants and their families stay connected, overcome barriers and realize their dreams. For more information, visit http://foundation.westernunion.com.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) is a leader in global money transfer services. Together with its Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded money transfer services, Western Union provides consumers with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, as well as send payments and purchase money orders. It operates through a combined network of more than 379,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph services, the original Western Union dates back to 1851. For more information, visit www.WesternUnion.com.

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SOURCE: Western Union

Western Union
Daniel Díaz, + 1-720-332-5564
daniel.diaz@WesternUnion.com
or
CONFEMEX
Arcadio Delgado, + 1-773-266-0459
arcadio@idpl.org