DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Western Union (NYSE: WU) a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, and the Western Union Foundation announced a USD $1M global matching challenge to help fight COVID-19 (coronavirus) and for relief in China and other affected countries. The combined Western Union and Western Union Foundation match will be up to USD $500,000.
The Western Union Foundation is accepting contributions from Western Union employees, Agents, customers, and the public, across the globe between now and April 14, 2020. The aid will be pledged to local and global NGOs, including Give2Asia and International Medical Corps* for ongoing relief efforts in China and other impacted nations throughout the world, including to purchase supplies, equipment and frontline medical treatment.
As of February 13, 46,997 individuals are estimated to have been infected with COVID-19, with 1,368 deaths globally (46,550 cases and 1,368 deaths in China), according to the World Health Organization.
“Western Union is a global company and we support our customers, employees and communities in times of need. The time is now for the global community to come together in support of communities affected by COVID-19,” said Western Union CEO Hikmet Ersek. “Being a responsible global company means not just serving and benefiting from an interconnected world but taking steps to care for vulnerable communities in dire times. We encourage everyone across the world including our employees, Agents and customers and partners, to step up and show their support.”
Donations towards the $1M challenge can be made via:
- Public donation appeal via the Western Union Foundation Donation Platform
- In the U.S., donations made through the Western Union mobile app between March 1 – April 14
- Company donations can be coordinated via wufoundation@wu.com
In addition to offering money for on-the-ground efforts to prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19, Western Union and the Western Union Foundation have launched a worldwide campaign to drive awareness and encourage donations from the public including Western Union employees, Agents, and customers.
“We are committed to helping our partner organizations fight this virus in whatever ways are most appropriate in their localities,” said Elizabeth Roscoe, Western Union Foundation Executive Director and Western Union Head of Corporate Brand & Purpose. “We understand the importance of doing our small part to bring the global community together to combat this infectious disease which can endanger everyone equally, without regard for boundaries of geography, ethnicity or social class.”
Give2Asia said it is thankful for the help and support from the global community, but more is always welcome. “We are grateful to everyone who is taking action in this time of need,” said Birger Stamperdahl, Give2Asia’s President and CEO. "Frontline health workers are risking their lives to help control the spread of the virus. Give2Asia sees a strong commitment on the part of the global community to support their work and to help families and communities hurt by the outbreak.”
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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 70 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, to invest $15 million by 2022, 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. We also provide funding to communities in crisis through disaster relief and other humanitarian efforts, a key reason for forced migration. To date, more than $124 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.
*The Western Union Foundation will commit 100 percent of funds raised via public donations to Give2Asia and International Medical Corps
