The Western Union Foundation today announced its third quarter 2013 grant commitment of more than US$2.8 million, which will be distributed across 35 nonprofit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world.  To date in 2013, the Western Union Foundation has announced grants totaling nearly US$5.7 million.

The grants are designed to help increase access to – and improve the quality of – education programs in multiple regions.  The grant cycle provides further support for the Western Union Education for Better program, which is a three-year commitment to help grow young minds through strategic grants that focus on applied learning at the secondary education and vocational training levels. 

“We continue to support NGOs that provide educational opportunities that set the framework for financial inclusion,” said Patrick Gaston, president of the Western Union Foundation.  “Education for Better provides assistance for education programs in key markets, and leverages the strength of The Western Union Company’s global network to achieve a tangible social impact on the communities and customers we serve.  To date, many Western Union Agents have participated in, and contributed to, the Education for Better program, with the Western Union Foundation matching Agent contributions to support educational programs around the world.” 

NGOs receiving a grant as part of the Western Union Foundation third quarter 2013 cycle include:

• Americas: A grant to Vista Del Mar Child & Family Services in California, funded in collaboration with Western Union Agent Continental Currency Services, will support the Vista School, which helps those with emotional, cognitive and/or behavioral issues develop coping skills and strategies that empower children and their families to lead self-reliant, stable and productive lives.
• Asia Pacific: OneVietnam will receive support for the continued development of the iStory program, which addresses barriers to education for women in Vietnam.  The grant will also contribute to a scholarship fund that creates continuing education opportunities for girls in the country.
• Europe: Hilfswerk Austria will receive a grant, funded in conjunction with Western Union Agent Raiffeisen Bank D.D. Bosna & Hercegovina, for the Book by Book program, which assists schools and other educational institutions in procuring books for school libraries, as well as professional development training materials for teachers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Middle East & Africa: Injaz in Morocco will receive support for the Junior Achievement “Success Skills” program, which provides experiential learning sessions in Casablanca and Rabat that focus on work-readiness and career development education.

Additional information, including the mission and purpose of the Western Union Foundation, can be found at www.westernunionfoundation.org

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.

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.

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..

More from Western Union