Over $917,000 Helping to Create Global Economic Opportunity

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Mar 31, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Western Union Foundation today announced 61 new grants under Western Union's Our World, Our Family^? Program. Totaling more than $917,000, these contributions will help build a brighter future for individuals, families and communities throughout the world. From providing education support to the Austrian migrant community and training disadvantaged women in Bangladesh in job-based computer skills, to helping provide financial literacy, consumer protection training and community outreach to low-income immigrant clients in Texas, grants from the Western Union Foundation are making a difference -- helping to create opportunities through education, economic development and cultural inclusion.

"I hope that in uncertain economic times, our support will provide hope for a better future for the people around the world who need it most," said Luella Chavez D'Angelo, president, Western Union Foundation. "One of the themes running through our first quarter grants is education. We believe that education, in many ways, can create pathways to opportunity. It is one of the keys to helping ensure a brighter future for people of all ages."

This quarter, among other grants, Foundation funds are providing vocational training facilities for students in Tanzania, supporting women in rural Nicaragua through entrepreneurial training and providing young newcomers to Canada with life skills classes and mentoring.

Other first quarter grants include:

• Bangladesh: A grant to Social Development will help support training for disadvantaged women, teaching them computer skills and English so that they have the skills necessary to obtain jobs.
• Turkey: Western Union Agent Finansbank A.S. formed an Agent Giving Circle, resulting in a grant to Toplum Gonulluleri Vakfi to help renovate and develop public libraries. Agent Giving Circles provide Western Union? Agents with a unique opportunity to work together to support their local communities, while amplifying the effects of their gifts through the Western Union Foundation one-for-one Agent donation match to eligible nonprofit organizations.
• U.S.: A grant to Centro Romero in Chicago is helping educate and integrate migrants by providing funding for Spanish Literacy, English Language, Civics, Spanish GED and language exchange programs.

These are just a few of the many worthy projects supported by the Our World, Our Family program. For more information on Our World, Our Family or on individual grants, please visit the Western Union Foundation website at foundation.westernunion.com.

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^?, 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 375,000 Agent locations in over 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: The Western Union Company

Western Union
Anna Alejo, 720-332-3884
anna.alejo@westernunion.com