ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Western Union Company and The Western Union Foundation today launched a million-dollar global business challenge to help fight the Ebola outbreak, and announced a multi-faceted program in support of community relief efforts.
“We are committed to helping the global communities we serve,” said Western Union President and Chief Executive Officer Hikmet Ersek. “Western Union encourages its Agents, Business Solutions clients, and other global business leaders to join us in supporting the people of West Africa during this time of need.”
Western Union Foundation Grants and Global Challenge:
Western Union is urging Western Union® Agents, Western Union Business Solutions clients and the entire global business community to drive donations toward Ebola relief efforts by providing a 1:1 match to all charitable donations supporting International Medical Corps and Save the Children to reach a total of $1 million in support. The Western Union Foundation match, up to $500,000, will benefit the International Medical Corps to support the treatment of current Ebola patients and training of local health-care workers, and Save the Children to support the diagnosis and early treatment of Ebola at the community level.
Western Union Consumer Activation:
Consumers worldwide also can donate online at www.westernunionfoundation.org, by clicking “Donate Now” and selecting “Ebola Outbreak Relief.” Donors may direct funds to either International Medical Corps or Save the Children.
In the United States, Western Union also has set up a no-fee Payments contribution account benefiting the American Red Cross to support Ebola relief efforts in West Africa. Donors in the United States can contribute by making a no-fee* Payments transaction at participating Western Union Agent locations, directed to the account, up to $5,000.
Donors need to complete the blue section on the Western Union form at retail Agent locations using company name “American Red Cross;” code city “REDCROSS DC;” and account number “Ebola Relief.”
Western Union Foundation President Patrick Gaston added, “The devastating Ebola outbreak is disrupting schools, businesses and daily life for people throughout the region. We are responding by supporting services that will help to curtail the spread of the disease.”
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, 2014, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of over 500,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and over 100,000 ATMs and kiosks. In 2013, The Western Union Company completed 242 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $82 billion of principal between consumers, and 459 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. 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 paid more than $98.5 million in grants and other giving. These funds have been pledged to more than 2,729 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.
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