Friday, January 22, 2010

Western Union Helps Raise over $1,265,000 to Support Earthquake Relief Efforts in Haiti

http://westernunion.com

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a leader in the money transfer segment of global payments, today announced it has helped raise over $1,265,000 in support of earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.



Western Union in cooperation with its Agents has activated a "No Transfer Fee" program, for a limited time, for money-transfers sent to Haiti from participating Agent locations in the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and select locations in France.1



The "No Transfer Fee" program, subject to network, service and currency availability, also is available through WesternUnion.com from the United States and Canada.



How Consumers Can Send Money to Haiti

Consumers sending money to Haiti may visit Western Union Agent locations to send a money-transfer to family and friends in Haiti or may do so online www.WesternUnion.com.

For more information about Agent locations that are open and offering services in Haiti consumers may visit www.WesternUnion.com or call in the:

  • U.S. 1 800 325-6000 (English and Spanish) or 1 877 984-1726 (Creole)

  • Canada 1 800 235-0000 (English and French) or 1 877 984-1726 (Creole)

  • Dominican Republic (1-809) 200-7380 (English and Spanish)

  • Jamaica (876) 926-2454

  • France 08 25 00 98 98.

Western Union and its Agents in Haiti continue to work around-the-clock to reopen additional Agent locations. The earthquake damages have generated a number of infrastructural challenges for businesses operating in the country, and our company continues to work toward restoring service as quickly as possible.



“The damages in Haiti and the need for support are immeasurable,” said Luella Chavez D’Angelo, president The Western Union Foundation. “We will continue to look for ways to work with organizations providing disaster relief efforts in Haiti. Our thoughts are with those affected by this disaster.”



Western Union Programs Supporting Haiti Disaster Relief Efforts Have Helped Raise $1,266,654.


  • Through its corporate signature program, Our World, Our Family®, The Western Union Company and The Western Union Foundation have donated $250,000 to help provide basic necessities such as food, safe drinking water, access to sanitation facilities, clothing and temporary shelter through Mercy Corps and Save the Children response teams actively working in Haiti. Additionally, The Western Union Foundation has matched employee and Agent donations for a total of $533,261.



    Collectively, Western Union has directly contributed $783,261 to support disaster relief efforts in Haiti.

  • Western Union, through its Foundation, also has activated its Agent Giving Circle, matching one-for-one Agent donations from the region and around the world. To date, Western Union Agents have donated $443,675.

  • Western Union employee donations to the Western Union Foundation Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, matched two-to-one for U.S. based employees and three-to-one for international employees. To date, Western Union employees have donated $39,718.

  • Additionally, The Western Union Company has set up a special account in the U.S. – MERCYCORPS, OR – benefitting Mercy Corps in support of disaster relief efforts in Haiti. Consumers in the U.S. can donate by sending a no fee money transfer, using the Western Union Quick Collect service, directed to the Mercy Corps account, for up to $5,000 over the next 30 days, concluding February 11, 2010, by visiting a Western Union Agent location.

1 For a limited time, Western Union is not charging a transfer fee for remittances from selected locations in the U.S., Canada, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and France to Haiti. However, if there is a conversion of currency, the conversion may result in a foreign exchange gain, which is retained by Western Union and its Agents. Western Union pays out in US dollars in Haiti.



About Western Union


The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta and Pago Facil branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, as well as send payments and purchase money orders. Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta operate through a combined network of more than 400,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories. In 2008, The Western Union Company completed 188 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $74 billion of principal between consumers, and 412 million consumer-to-business transactions. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.













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