ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The
Western Union Foundation today announced its third quarter 2013
grant commitment of more than US$2.8 million, which will be distributed
across 35 nonprofit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the
world. To date in 2013, the Western Union Foundation has announced
grants totaling nearly US$5.7 million.
The grants are designed to help increase access to – and improve the
quality of – education programs in multiple regions. The grant cycle
provides further support for the Western
Union Education for Better program, which is a three-year
commitment to help grow young minds through strategic grants that focus
on applied learning at the secondary education and vocational training
levels.
“We continue to support NGOs that provide educational opportunities that
set the framework for financial inclusion,” said
Patrick Gaston
,
president of the Western Union Foundation. “Education for Better provides
assistance for education programs in key markets, and leverages the
strength of The Western Union Company’s global network to achieve a
tangible social impact on the communities and customers we serve. To
date, many Western Union Agents have participated in, and contributed
to, the Education for Better program, with the Western
Union Foundation matching Agent contributions to support educational
programs around the world.”
NGOs receiving a grant as part of the Western Union Foundation third
quarter 2013 cycle include:
-
Americas: A grant to Vista
Del Mar Child & Family Services in California, funded in
collaboration with Western Union Agent Continental
Currency Services, will support the Vista School, which helps
those with emotional, cognitive and/or behavioral issues develop
coping skills and strategies that empower children and their families
to lead self-reliant, stable and productive lives.
-
Asia Pacific: OneVietnam
will receive support for the continued development of the iStory
program, which addresses barriers to education for women in Vietnam.
The grant will also contribute to a scholarship fund that creates
continuing education opportunities for girls in the country.
-
Europe: Hilfswerk
Austria will receive a grant, funded in conjunction with Western
Union Agent Raiffeisen
Bank D.D. Bosna & Hercegovina, for the Book by Book program,
which assists schools and other educational institutions in procuring
books for school libraries, as well as professional development
training materials for teachers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
-
Middle East & Africa: Injaz
in Morocco will receive support for the Junior Achievement “Success
Skills” program, which provides experiential learning sessions in
Casablanca and Rabat that focus on work-readiness and career
development education.
Additional information, including the mission and purpose of the Western
Union Foundation, can be found at www.westernunionfoundation.org.
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. Through its signature
program, Education
for Better, and 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
committed more than $91.2 million in grants and other giving to more
than 2,682 nongovernmental organizations in more than 133 countries and
territories. The Western Union Foundation is a separate §501(c)(3)
recognized United States charity. To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org.
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, 2013, the Western Union, Vigo
and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined
network of approximately 515,000 agent locations in 200 countries and
territories and approximately 115,000 ATMs. In 2012, The Western Union
Company completed 231 million consumer-to-consumer transactions
worldwide, moving $79 billion of principal between consumers, and 432
million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
WU-G
WU-P
Source: Western Union