The Western Union Foundation today announced support for disaster relief efforts that will help the families and communities impacted by the devastating floods and landslides in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in northern India.

The Western Union Foundation is making a grant of $25,000 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support the organization’s immediate response activities, which include providing shelter provisions, non-food relief items and safe drinking water to the thousands of families impacted by the disaster. 

To encourage and support employee philanthropy, The Western Union Company will match two-for-one employee donations through July 12, 2013 to the Western Union Foundation for disaster relief efforts in northern India.  Each employee can donate up to US$25,000 per calendar year.

Employees – and consumers worldwide – can give online by using the “Donate Now” button at WesternUnionFoundation.org, and selecting the “India Flood Relief” option.

Western Union is also encouraging its Agents to join together in supporting relief efforts. Under the Western Union Foundation Agent Gift Match program, the Foundation will provide a dollar-for-dollar match of qualifying Agent contributions to NGOs providing disaster relief support in the impacted region. 

"The floods and landslides in northern India have caused significant damage and loss of life, and recent reports indicate that thousands of people have died or have been displaced,” said Western Union Foundation President, Patrick Gaston. “As an organization, we are responding with support and services that will provide food, water and shelter to the families and children most affected by the disaster.”

“We are committed to helping the communities we serve, and our thoughts are with the people of India and their families around the world during this time of need.  Over the coming weeks we will work with Western Union Agents, employees and nonprofit partners to help the area recover and rebuild,” concluded Gaston.

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.  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 $86.9 million in grants and other giving to more than 2,627 nongovernmental organizations in more than 130 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org.

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 March 31, 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 100,000 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.

Western Union

Western Union

The Western Union Company, a leader in global payment services, believes access to financial services is a necessity. Western Union moves money reliably and quickly to almost every country - and we do it for extraordinary people seeking a better life and for businesses that generate jobs and opportunity.

Our business changes lives for the better. So does the Western Union Foundation: since 2001, the Western Union Foundation has awarded more than $101.1 million in grants to more than 2,730 nongovernmental organizations in more than 135 countries and territories..

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