Western Union and the Western Union Foundation Expand Funding for Global COVID-19 Relief
28 April 2020 - 5:51AM
Business Wire
Combined Commitment of USD $800K will Support
Domestic Hunger Relief and Global Healthcare Systems Serving
Vulnerable Populations, Including Refugees and Migrants
The Western Union Foundation has announced a commitment of an
additional USD $300,000 in the global fight against COVID-19,
making the combined funds pledged by Western Union and the Western
Union Foundation USD $800,000.
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the full release here:
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The Western Union Foundation giving priorities have been updated
to include strengthening healthcare systems around the globe that
are serving some of the world’s most vulnerable populations,
including refugees and migrants. Additionally, the Foundation will
continue to support local and global nonprofit organizations
providing access to essential services including hunger relief,
medical training, education, supplies and equipment for frontline
healthcare workers.
Major global non-governmental organizations to benefit from the
giving include the UN Foundation COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund,
Give2Asia, International Medical Corps and in the U.S. the Chicago
Community COVID-19 Response Fund.
In February, Western Union and the Western Union Foundation
announced a one million dollar global matching challenge, with a
commitment to match up to USD $500,000 in the fight against
COVID-19 making personal, corporate, employee and Agent donations
go further in this fight. The deadline for the global matching
challenge has been extended through May 15.
- Public donations can be made through the Western Union
Foundation Donation Platform.
- In the U.S. donations can be made through the Western Union
mobile app through May 15.
- Corporate donations can be coordinated via email at
wufoundation@wu.com.
“Working with Western Union Agents, customers and employees to
make their dollars go further demonstrates the power of
collaboration in supporting displaced and marginalized communities
around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Elizabeth
Roscoe, Global Head, Corporate Brand and Purpose, and Executive
Director, Western Union Foundation. “We are humbled and eternally
grateful for the commitment of all frontline workers who continue
to show up each day to deliver essential services in these
unprecedented times. They are the heroes of our time.”
The Western Union Foundation is focused on supporting
marginalized and displaced communities, including migrants and
refugees. These vulnerable populations are less likely to have
access to the information, medical assistance and supplies needed
to combat this virus. It is critical we work with partners that are
supporting these individuals so the coronavirus can be both
contained and treated, as well as respond to acute community needs
like food insecurity brought on as a result of COVID-19.
Western Union and the Western Union Foundation are investing USD
$800,000 – plus the proceeds raised from Agents, customers and
employees during the global matching challenge – in nonprofits
around the world that are responding to COVID-19 related issues.
Outlined below are a few recent campaign highlights:
- Tony’s Charitable Foundation: The charitable arm of
Tony’s Fresh Market, a Western Union Agent in Chicago, donated USD
$50,000 to the global matching challenge fund. Their gift was
matched by the Western Union Foundation for a total of $100,000
being directed to the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund for
essential services such as emergency food and healthcare
supplies.
- Give2Asia: The Western Union Foundation committed
to fund local response efforts during the coronavirus outbreak
across the Asia-Pacific region to deliver critical medical supplies
including hundreds of thousands of masks to protect health workers
and at-risk populations, tens of thousands of liters of
disinfectant for hospitals and meals for medical staff and
patients.
- International Medical Corps: The Western Union
Foundation committed to fund COVID-19 training for healthcare
workers in the Philippines for infection prevention, control, and
to prepare for a surge in cases; personal protective equipment,
including gloves, goggles, gowns and hundreds of thousands of masks
to the Manila Health Department for frontline healthcare workers
safe; and set up of screening and triage tents at a hospital in
Manila.
- UN Foundation COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund:
A commitment of $100,000 to support the World Health Organization’s
work to track and understand the spread of the virus, ensure
patients get the care they need and frontline workers get essential
supplies and information, and to accelerate research and
development of a vaccine and treatments for all who need them.
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a global leader in
cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments. Our
omnichannel platform connects the digital and physical worlds and
makes it possible for consumers and businesses to send and receive
money and make payments with speed, ease, and reliability. As of
December 31, 2019, our network included over 550,000 retail agent
locations offering our branded services in more than 200 countries
and territories, with the capability to send money to billions of
accounts. Additionally, westernunion.com, our fastest growing
channel in 2019, is available in over 75 countries, plus additional
territories, to move money around the world. With our global reach,
Western Union moves money for better, connecting family, friends
and businesses to enable financial inclusion and support economic
growth. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
About the Western Union Foundation
The Western Union Foundation believes that education is the
surest pathway to economic opportunity. After nearly 20 years of
impact, we are continuing to deliver against our mission with our
Opportunity Beyond Borders commitment, with a focus on empowering
forcibly displaced and marginalized youth with the training and
education needed to succeed in today’s technology-driven global
economy. The Foundation also provides funding to communities in
crisis through disaster relief and other humanitarian efforts, a
key reason for forced migration. To date, more than $125 million
has been given to fund projects and scholarships in 174 countries
across the globe. The Western Union Foundation is a separate
charitable corporation that is tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) of the US
Internal Revenue Code, and receives support from The Western Union
Company, its employees, agents and business partners. Contributions
to the Foundation are tax-deductible for US income tax purposes. To
learn more, visit wu.com/foundation or follow us on Twitter
@TheWUFoundation.
WU-G
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Media Contacts Margaret Fogarty, Western Union
margaret.fogarty@wu.com 720-551-3393
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