The Western Union Company and the Western Union Foundation Respond to Earthquake in Pakistan with Support for Relief Efforts

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Sep 26, 2013, 08:23 ET

DUBAI, UAE, September 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in global financial services, 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.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130515/613588 )

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.

In addition to funds being raised, 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.

"Our thoughts are with the people hit by the earthquake, in Pakistan," said Jean Claude Farah, Western Union Senior Vice President for Middle East and Africa.

"Western Union 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. 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."

*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 http://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 http://www.westernunion.com.

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SOURCE Western Union