ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Western Union Company today announced a multi-faceted response program that will provide support for disaster relief efforts that target the families and communities most affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. The program includes grant funding from The Western Union Foundation and a consumer no-fee* activation initiative, as well as Western Union® employee and retail Agent giving elements.
Western Union Foundation Grant Activity
The Western Union Foundation is making a grant of US$100,000 to Save the Children to support the organization’s immediate response activities in the Philippines, which include providing emergency materials, meals and water to disaster victims.
International Consumer Activation
Over the course of this week, and for the benefit of consumers sending money to family and loved ones in the Philippines, The Western Union Company will activate a no-fee* money transfer transaction program from participating Agent locations in the Caribbean, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Portugal, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States, through November 30, 2013. Consumers in the United States will need to include promotion code HAIYANRELIEF with their transaction at retail Agent locations to utilize the no-fee offer. Additional countries for no-fee retail activations will be announced via social media in the coming days.
No-fee transactions to the Philippines will also be enabled for the same time period at WesternUnion.com in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Online consumers in the United States will need to use the promotion code HAIYANRELIEF, while consumers in Australia and the United Kingdom need to use promotion code HAIYANRELIEF2013.
Furthermore, in the United States, Western Union has set up a no-fee Payments contribution account benefitting the American Red Cross, to support international relief efforts in the Philippines. 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 US$5,000.
Donors will need to complete the blue section on the Western Union form at retail locations, using the company name “American Red Cross” and the code city, “REDCROSS DC.” Please write in, “Disaster Relief” as the account number.
Employee and Agent Activation
To encourage and support additional philanthropy, through November 30, 2013, The Western Union Company will match two-for-one employee donations to the Western Union Foundation for disaster relief efforts in the Philippines.
Western Union is also encouraging its Agents to join together in supporting relief efforts. Under the Western Union Foundation Business Partner Giving program, the Foundation will provide a dollar-for-dollar match of qualifying contributions to NGOs providing disaster relief support in the impacted region.
“Typhoon Haiyan was unprecedented in its scale and impact across the Philippines, with reports indicating widespread devastation and loss of life. Western Union is responding with support for relief efforts in the immediate aftermath of the storm, including programs that provide meals, water and emergency materials to the families and children most affected by the disaster,” said Patrick Gaston, president of The Western Union Foundation.
“We are committed to helping the communities we serve, and our thoughts are with the people of the Philippines, and the Filipino diaspora community around the world, during this time of need. In addition to immediate response, we will be working with Western Union Agents, employees and nonprofit relief agencies to provide support for initiatives that will help the area recover and rebuild,” concluded Gaston.
*Western Union makes money on the exchange of currencies. No-fee activations may not be immediately available.
Due to the severity of Typhoon Haiyan, some Western Union Agent locations in the Philippines may not be immediately operational or possess sufficient funds.
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.
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.
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