When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, TX and the Gulf Coast of the United States in August 2017, the Western Union Foundation and the Western Union Company mobilized a rapid-response to help those impacted by the disaster. The Western Union Foundation donated an initial USD $30,000 to the American Red Cross and offered a 2:1 match on all contributions made by Western Union employees in the US, plus a 1:1 match on all contributions from Western Union agents. We also engaged employees from Western Union’s corporate headquarters in Denver, CO to man the phones at a Red Cross telethon. The Western Union Company contributed an additional USD $100,000 for a total joint contribution of nearly USD $325,000. The company also offered fee-free transfers for those sending money to people in Texas or donating to the Red Cross.
We provide funding for nonprofits to support immediate relief and sustainable rebuilding for communities in crisis. Wherever possible, we align our efforts with those of The Western Union Company, which is uniquely positioned to support aid efforts, due to its global presence and ability to make cash readily accessible for those in need.
When there’s a crisis, we need partners who can act quickly to help us get support to where it’s needed the most. The Western Union Foundation is there when we need them, from providing financial support to fund our relief efforts to mobilizing business resources and employee volunteers from the Western Union Company.
Michelle Houlihan, Senior Officer, American Red Cross
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