The Western Union Company and The Western Union Foundation today announced support for disaster relief efforts that will help the families and communities affected by the devastating earthquake in Pakistan.

The Western Union Foundation is making a grant of US$50,000 to Save the Children to support the organization’s immediate response activities, which include providing emergency materials, meals and water to disaster victims.

Additionally, The Western Union Company will activate a no-fee* money transfer transaction program from participating Agent locations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to Pakistan, through October 13, 2013.

To encourage and support employee philanthropy, through October 11, 2013, The Western Union Company will match two-for-one employee donations to the Western Union Foundation for disaster relief efforts in Pakistan.  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 “Pakistan Earthquake 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 earthquake in Pakistan has caused significant damage, with initial reports indicating that at least 200 people have lost their lives, and thousands more are injured. The Western Union Foundation is responding with support for relief efforts in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, 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 Pakistan during this time of need.  In addition to immediate response, we will be working with Western Union Agents, employees and nonprofit partners to provide support for initiatives that will help the area recover and rebuild,” concluded Gaston.

*Western Union makes money on the exchange of currencies.

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 $90.2 million in grants and other giving to more than 2,657 nongovernmental organizations in more than 130 countries and territories. The Western Union Foundation, is a separate §501(c)(3) recognized United States charity. 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 June 30, 2013, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of approximately 520,000 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.

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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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