Western Union Responds to Hurricane Sandy

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To help the communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy, The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) and The Western Union Foundation today announced a series of disaster relief efforts.

“Western Union is closely monitoring the impact of Hurricane Sandy”

Direct Support through Grantmaking:

The Western Union Foundation will provide a total of $75,000 in combined grants to organizations supporting disaster relief efforts in the areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Grant recipients include the American Red Cross, to provide impacted communities in the U.S. with shelter, food and basic necessities, and the International Federation of the Red Cross Red Crescent Societies to support rebuilding efforts in Jamaica and Cuba.

Mobilizing Consumer Giving:

Western Union is also enabling consumers in the U.S. to give to the American Red Cross as part of a “no transfer fee” program using the Western Union® Quick Collect® or Payments Service Form through participating Western Union® Agent locations across the U.S.

Consumers need to complete the blue form, using "American Red Cross” as the Pay To recipient; “REDCROSS DC” as the Code City, along with “Hurricane Relief” in the account field. This consumer-giving option will be available through November 30, 2012.

Motivating Employee and Agent Giving:

To encourage and support employee philanthropy, Western Union, through The Western Union Foundation, will match all employee donations to the foundation two-for-one for U.S.-based employees.

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

Employees and consumers can give online by using the “Donate Now” button: www.westernunionfoundation.org.

“Western Union is closely monitoring the impact of Hurricane Sandy,” said Luella Chavez D’Angelo, Senior Vice President Social Ventures, Western Union and President, The Western Union Foundation. “We recognize the need to help balance immediate support and long-term needs and will continue to work with our Agents, employees and NGOs in support of the communities we serve.”

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, 2012, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of approximately 510,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories. In 2011, The Western Union Company completed 226 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $81 billion of principal between consumers, and 425 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

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 awarded more than $81.7 million in grants to more than 2,551 nongovernmental organizations in more than 124 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org.

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