Education for Better

 The Western Union Foundation today announced its first quarter 2014 grant commitment of US$1.87 million, which will be distributed to nonprofit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world.

The grants help increase access to – and improve the quality of – education programs in multiple regions. Through its signature program Education for Better, the Western Union Foundation is committed to supporting secondary and vocational education programs that facilitate financial and economic opportunity for individuals, their families and their communities.

The highlight of the Q1 grant cycle is a US$350,000 commitment to Teach For All, a global network of independent social enterprises that works to expand educational opportunity in more than 30 countries. Teach For All partners enlist their nations' most promising future leaders to commit two years to teach in high-need communities, and foster their ongoing leadership as a long-term force for educational equity.

“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,” said Patrick Gaston, president of the Western Union Foundation. “Our relationships with NGOs around the world are an important part of the Education for Better program, and demonstrate our continued commitment to setting a global framework for financial inclusion and economic development.”

According to Wendy Kopp, CEO of Teach For All, “The problem of inequity in education is global, and solving it requires the commitment and investment of partners across sectors and borders. Having the Western Union Foundation’s continued commitment to the work of Teach For All is a tremendous step forward in supporting and making connections between our 33 partner organizations.”

Since the launch of Education for Better in the fourth quarter of 2012, the Western Union Foundation has committed nearly US$9.1 million in key markets around the globe, in support of the program. The Foundation’s Education for Better grants have reached more than 140 NGOs in 46 countries.

Additional NGOs receiving a grant as part of the Western Union Foundation first quarter 2014 cycle include:

• In collaboration with Western Union Agent Kenya Commercial Bank, The Western Union Foundation will support the KCB Foundation’s scholarship program, which provides assistance to 200 students in Kenya, including increased access to secondary school education and mentoring programs.
• A grant to the Eden Social Welfare Foundation in Taiwan, funded in conjunction with Western Union Agent King’s Town Bank, will support the Elephant Family Project for Disadvantaged Communities, which provides after-school tutoring services and skills workshops that help build economic, employment and educational opportunities for students in Taiwan.
• The Institute for International Education in the United States and Canada will receive a grant that will support the Western Union Family Scholarship Program. Now in its 10th cycle, the Family Scholarship Program is intended to help two members of the same family move up the economic development ladder through education. Approximately 11 families will receive support for educational activity as a result of the Western Union Foundation grant.
• A grant to Junior Achievement Ecuador, funded in conjunction with Western Union Agent DHL Express (Ecuador), will help provide entrepreneurship training and self-sufficiency training to low-income Ecuadorian students, so they can succeed in the global economy.
• The SS Educational Trust in Pakistan will receive a grant to support the SS Public School - Education for All Program. The grant will be used to purchase text books, and assist in the development of a science and computer-skills laboratory, which will serve nearly 600 underprivileged students, and increase the quality of education and facilities standards in the country. The grant was funded in collaboration with Western Union Agent Habib Qatar International Exchange Pakistan Ltd.

For more information, including the mission and purpose of the Western Union Foundation, please visit 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 paid more than $96.0 million in grants and other giving. These funds have been pledged to more than 2,720 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 March 31, 2014, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of over 500,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and over 100,000 ATMs. In 2013, The Western Union Company completed 242 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $82 billion of principal between consumers, and 459 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

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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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