Englewood, Colorado, United States
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), through its global foundation, The Western Union Foundation, today announced that it has become the first corporate donor to the United Nation's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, the CERF seeks to provide quick initial funding for life-saving assistance and rapid response in sudden onset, rapidly deteriorating, and underfunded humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters around the globe. A 2006 resolution of the General Assembly specifies that the CERF should ultimately reach $500 million per year, of which $50 million is a revolving loan fund. The announcement of the Western Union Foundation's $100,000 gift was made today at the United Nation's New York headquarters at the CERF annual high-level meeting.
"The United Nations is delighted at this first-ever corporate donation to the Fund by the Western Union Foundation," said John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. "Reaching an annual goal of $450 million for this Fund -- which is from everyone, and for everyone - requires the participation of many donors year after year. We hope that other corporations follow from this lead."
As a global leader in cross-border remittances, Western Union has long understood the critical and immediate need for financial support in times of crisis or natural disaster. Through its corporate Foundation, Western Union has supported more than 50 disaster relief operations since 2001. Western Union's consumers regularly provide aid to friends and loved ones around the world for vital necessities such as food, clothing and shelter - often providing a much-needed supplement to the relief efforts of government and humanitarian organizations.
"The Western Union Foundation is dedicated to creating economic opportunity for people around the world," said Luella Chavez D'Angelo, president, The Western Union Foundation. "But when a disaster strikes, we know that all thoughts for the future must be put aside until basic human needs can be met. Through our work with CERF, we hope to help speed the recovery of those affected - helping them to put their lives back together as quickly as possible so that they can once again focus on building a better life for themselves, their families and their communities."
About the Western Union Foundation
Founded in 2000, the Western Union Foundation facilitates charitable giving programs worldwide. Since 2001, the Western Union Foundation, in collaboration with Western Union Agents and employees, has granted nearly $40 million to more than 1,500 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in 70 countries around the globe to support humanitarian projects. In addition, the Foundation has supported more than 50 disaster-relief operations and has funded education and human services programs.
In 2007 the Foundation announced the creation of the Our World, Our Family signature program, with a goal of creating economic opportunity around the world. The program will assist individuals and families as they strive to overcome obstacles, rise above limitations and lay the groundwork for a brighter future.
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (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 320,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.WesternUnion.com.
About the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
OCHA is the United Nation's department for the coordination of humanitarian response, policy development and humanitarian advocacy in complex emergencies and disasters.
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Source: Business Wire (Business Wire India)