First Data Western Union Foundation provides grants

November 06, 2005

DENVER - In 2005, the First Data Western Union Foundation, the charitable arm of First Data Corporation, has committed more than $3.8 million in grants and scholarships to enhance the quality of life for the underserved worldwide, particularly children, families and immigrants, according to a prepared release.

During this third quarter, U.S. and international grants totaling $2.25 million were awarded to 78 nonprofit organizations and some 60 students.

"Because of First Data and Western Union's vast network in more than 200 countries, the foundation is able to maintain global reach yet directly impact local communities where it can most readily make a difference," said Luella Chavez D'Angelo, president of the First Data Western Union Foundation.

"As we continue to support these communities and provide opportunities to the people in them, we in turn are inspired by the stories of resilience, perseverance and success," she said.

The foundation immediately responded to the earthquake in Pakistan on Oct. 8 with a $250,000 donation to the Pakistan President's Relief Fund for Earthquake Victims 2005.

The gift will help provide relief and resources to the tens of thousands of survivors of the earthquake, the foundation said in a prepared release.

In the United States, the foundation also pledged $1 million to support Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Gifts of $500,000 each were made to the American Red Cross and America's Second Harvest, enabled by generous employee contributions and First Data's unique 2-for-1 corporate gift matching program, according to the release.

Beyond responding to emergencies, the foundation continues to champion the ongoing, critical work of nongovernmental organizations in diverse communities throughout the world, with special emphasis on those groups fostering economic stability and disaster relief, the release said.

Third quarter grants were allocated to CARE to help offset the food crisis in Niger, The Asia Foundation, to support migrant women worker service projects in Jintang County, China, and World Vision, to provide flood relief in Romania, among others, according to the release.

The First Data Western Union Foundation is set to celebrate its five-year anniversary in December.

Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $22 million in grants and scholarships, including a total of $4.4 million to aid disaster relief efforts worldwide, the release said.

More information can be found at the foundation's Web site at www.firstdatawesternunion.org.

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