ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
To help the communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy, The Western Union
Company (NYSE: WU) and The Western Union Foundation today announced a
series of disaster relief efforts.
Direct Support through Grantmaking:
The Western Union Foundation will provide a total of $75,000 in combined
grants to organizations supporting disaster relief efforts in the areas
impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Grant recipients include the American Red
Cross, to provide impacted communities in the U.S. with shelter, food
and basic necessities, and the International Federation of the Red Cross
Red Crescent Societies to support rebuilding efforts in Jamaica and Cuba.
Mobilizing Consumer Giving:
Western Union is also enabling consumers in the U.S. to give to
the American Red Cross as part of a “no transfer fee” program using the
Western Union® Quick Collect® or Payments Service Form through
participating Western Union® Agent locations across the U.S.
Consumers need to complete the blue form, using "American
Red Cross” as the Pay To recipient; “REDCROSS DC” as the Code
City, along with “Hurricane Relief” in the account field. This
consumer-giving option will be available through November 30, 2012.
Motivating Employee and Agent Giving:
To encourage and support employee philanthropy, Western Union, through
The Western Union Foundation, will match all employee donations to the
foundation two-for-one for U.S.-based employees.
Western Union is also encouraging its Agents to join together in
supporting relief efforts. Under its Agent Gift Match program, Western
Union will provide a dollar-for-dollar match of qualifying Agent
contributions to NGOs providing disaster relief support in the impacted
regions.
Employees and consumers can give online by using the “Donate Now”
button: www.westernunionfoundation.org.
“Western Union is closely monitoring the impact of Hurricane Sandy,”
said Luella Chavez D’Angelo, Senior Vice President Social Ventures,
Western Union and President, The Western Union Foundation. “We recognize
the need to help balance immediate support and long-term needs and will
continue to work with our Agents, employees and NGOs in support of the
communities we serve.”
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment
services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western
Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western
Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and
convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send
payments and to purchase money orders. As of September 30, 2012,
the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered
through a combined network of approximately 510,000 agent locations in
200 countries and territories. In 2011, The Western Union
Company completed 226 million consumer-to-consumer transactions
worldwide, moving $81 billion of principal between consumers, and 425
million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
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. 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 awarded more than $81.7
million in grants to more than 2,551 nongovernmental organizations in
more than 124 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org.
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Source: Western Union