Western Union Initiates Range of Resources to Support Victims of Natural Disasters in Thailand and Central America
15 November 2011 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
In response to the devastating flooding in Thailand and Central
America, the Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), today announced a
coordinated effort to help meet the immediate needs of the people
most affected by these growing natural disasters. The response
package includes Western Union Foundation grants totaling
US$134,000, “no transfer fee*” consumer giving from participating
Western Union Agent locations worldwide, a text-based option for
consumers in the U.S. to donate, and dedicated employee and Agent
giving programs with a corporate match. All donations and grants
will be directed to the International Federation of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Direct Support Through Strategic Grantmaking
The Western Union Foundation will give an initial financial
contribution of US$100,000 to IFRC, with US$50,000 going to
Thailand and US$50,000 for Central American relief.
Western Union is actively encouraging its Agents to join
together to support relief efforts. The company will match Agent
contributions to the Western Union Foundation disaster relief fund
dollar-for-dollar. In Central America, Western Union’s Master
Agent, Airpak, has joined the initiative with a US$17,000
contribution, which will be matched with an additional US$17,000.
When combined with the initial grant from the Western Union
Foundation, US$84,000 will be donated to IFRC for emergency relief
in Central America.
“Representatives of IFRC and its member National Societies have
been on the ground working side by side with authorities to meet
the most immediate and critical needs such as access to food,
shelter and water,” said Luella Chavez D’Angelo, senior vice
president of Western Union Social Ventures and president of the
Western Union Foundation. “We are committed to helping the
communities important to our customers, employees and business
partners when they are faced with devastation.”
Mobilizing Consumer Giving
Western Union is enabling consumers to give to IFRC through
participating Western Union® Agent locations around the world as
part of a “no transfer fee*” program using the Western Union® Quick
Collect®, Quick PaySM, or Payments Service. Consumers need to
complete the blue form, using "WESTERN UNION FOUNDATION” as the Pay
To recipient; “WUFOUNDATION” as the Code City; and either
“THAILAND” or “CENTRALAMERICA” as the Account number. This
consumer-giving option will be available through November 30,
2011.
Consumers in the United States may also use their mobile phones
to make a US$10 contribution by texting “THAI” to 52000 for
Thailand relief, or “FLOODS” to 52000 for Central American relief.
Donations will go to IFRC. Donations will be charged to the
consumer’s mobile phone bill.**
Motivating Employee Giving
To encourage and support the philanthropic activity of its
employees, Western Union, through the Western Union Foundation, has
created a special relief fund for IFRC. Western Union will match
all employee donations to fund relief efforts in these regions and
will be matched two-for-one for U.S. based employees, and
three-for-one for all other company employees around the world.
Employees and others can give online at
www.westernunionfoundation.org.
* Western Union makes money on the exchange of currencies.
**A one-time donation of US$10.00 will be added to the mobile
phone bill of the donor or deducted from his/her prepaid balance.
All charges are billed by and payable to the donor’s mobile service
provider. All donations must be authorized by the account holder.
Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for
the benefit of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to
the terms found at www.hmgf.org/t. Users can unsubscribe at any
time by texting STOP to 52000 and text HELP to 52000 for help.
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. The
Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services are offered
through a combined network of approximately 485,000 agent locations
in 200 countries and territories. In 2010, The Western Union
Company completed 214 million consumer-to-consumer transactions
worldwide, moving $76 billion of principal between consumers, and
405 million business payments. For more information, visit
www.westernunion.com.
About the Western Union Foundation
Through Western Union's Our World, Our Family® signature
program, the Western Union Foundation supports initiatives to
empower people through access to economic opportunity. Recognized
by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy in 2009, the
program is a five-year, $50 million commitment reflecting efforts
made by Western Union employees, agents and partners around the
world. Since its inception, the Western Union Foundation has
awarded more than $73.8 million in grants to 2033 nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) in 120 countries and territories. To learn
more, visit http://westernunionfoundation.org.
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