DUBAI, UAE, September 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in global
financial services, and The Western Union Foundation today
announced support for disaster relief efforts that will help the
families and communities affected by the devastating earthquake in
Pakistan.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130515/613588 )
The Western Union Foundation is making a grant of US$50,000 to Save the Children to support the
organization's immediate response activities, which include
providing emergency materials, meals and water to disaster
victims.
In addition to funds being raised, The Western Union Company
will activate a no-fee* money transfer transaction program from
participating Agent locations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to Pakistan, through October 13, 2013.
To encourage and support employee philanthropy, through
October 11, 2013, The Western Union
Company will match two-for-one employee donations to the Western
Union Foundation for disaster relief efforts in Pakistan. Each employee can donate up to
US$25,000 per calendar year.
Employees-and consumers worldwide-can give online by using the
"Donate Now" button at WesternUnionFoundation.org, and selecting
the "Pakistan Earthquake Relief" option.
Western Union is also encouraging its Agents to join together in
supporting relief efforts. Under the Western Union Foundation Agent
Gift Match program, the Foundation will provide a dollar-for-dollar
match of qualifying Agent contributions to NGOs providing disaster
relief support in the impacted region.
"Our thoughts are with the people hit by the earthquake, in
Pakistan," said Jean Claude Farah, Western Union Senior Vice
President for Middle East
and Africa.
"Western Union is responding with support for relief efforts in
the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, including programs that
provide meals, water and emergency materials to the families and
children most affected by the disaster. In addition to immediate
response, we will be working with Western Union Agents, employees
and nonprofit partners to provide support for initiatives that will
help the area recover and rebuild."
*Western Union makes money on the
exchange of currencies.
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 committed more than $90.2 million in grants and other giving to more
than 2,657 nongovernmental organizations in more than 130 countries
and territories. The Western Union Foundation, is a separate
§501(c)(3) recognized United States charity. To learn more, visit
http://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
June 30, 2013, the Western Union,
Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a
combined network of approximately 520,000 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
http://www.westernunion.com.
WU-G
SOURCE Western Union