Western Union Foundation Donates US$25,000 to Cuba Efforts
Reduced Fees for Regular Money Transfers to Cuba from Authorized Agent
Locations in Florida Offered for the Next Two Months
SUNRISE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Western Union Foundation announced
today a donation of US$25,000 to the International Federation of the Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) through Western Union's Our
World, Our Family corporate giving program to support the humanitarian
operation of the Cuban Red Cross in the aftermath of two consecutive
hurricanes in Cuba.
The IFRC estimates that about a third of the population on the Island
was evacuated due to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and as many as 30,000
homes were destroyed and another 320,000 homes affected by the passing
of the storms.
Western Union's Our World, Our Family program, together with the
contributions of Western Union Agents, has recently provided similar
disaster relief donations in Belize, Haiti and Jamaica.
Western Union has also reduced its regular money transfer fees from
authorized Agent locations in Florida to Cuba by setting a flat fee of
US$14.99a for money transfer transactions of up to US$300. This reduced
fee from Authorized Agent locations in Florida to Cuba is effective
September 15, 2008, through November 15, 2008.
"While most of our Agent locations are already operating in Cuba, we are
working closely with our Agent there to ensure our network of more than
150 Agent locations becomes fully operational as soon as possible," said
Liz Alicea-Velez, Western Union's executive vice president for the Latin
America and Caribbean region. "We are committed to getting the money
sent to people on the island into their hands quickly, and we are
willing to offer a fee reduction in money transfers during this time of
adversity to facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to hurricane
victims."
Our World, Our Family is a five-year initiative to empower migrant
families through education and global economic opportunity programs that
help them stay connected, overcome barriers, and realize their dreams.
aIn addition to the transfer fees, Western Union also makes money when
it changes dollars into foreign currency. To locate an authorized Agent
location please call 1-800-325-4045 or visit westernunion.com
About the Western Union Foundation
Through the donations of The Western Union Company, its employees and
Agents, the Western Union Foundation helps to fund programs that create
economic opportunity around the world. Embracing the truly global nature
of its corporate sponsor, the Western Union Foundation has granted
nearly $48 million to more than 1,750 nongovernmental organizations
(NGOs) in 70 countries. Its signature giving program, Western Union's
Our World, Our Familysm, is a $50 million, five-year commitment reaching
people at every rung of the economic ladder. Through Our World, Our
Family, the Western Union Foundation is helping migrants and their
families stay connected, overcome barriers and realize their dreams. For
more information, visit www.westernunion.com/foundation.
About Western Union
Western Union (NYSE:WU), together with its affiliates Orlandi Valuta and
Vigo, is a leading provider of global money-transfer services, providing
people with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send money around the
world, pay bills and purchase money orders through a network of more
than 355,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. For
more information, visit www.westernunion.com.
WU-G
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