Western Union and Six-Time Grammy-Award Winning Musician John Legend Launch 50 Days of Giving in New York City

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a leader in global payment services, and six-time Grammy-Award winning recording artist John Legend today joined forces to officially launch the 2010 holiday giving season with 50 Days of Giving and a private performance in New York City.

To kick off 50 Days of Giving, a national campaign designed to help raise charitable-giving awareness, Western Union announced an initial total of $100,000 in grants to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of America, CARE USA, Mercy Corps, Save the Children and The U.S. Fund for UNICEF.  Western Union and John Legend also unveiled www.50daysofgiving.com – an online voting site to encourage consumers to take an active role in supporting one of the five charities this holiday season.  The organization receiving the most online votes, by December 25, will receive an additional $150,000 grant from Western Union.

"Fifty Days of Giving represents an opportunity to make a difference in people's lives," said John Legend. "Together with Western Union, I hope to encourage others to give back this holiday season – whether it's sending the gift of cash to a charity, family or friends, voting online at 50 Days of Giving.com or donating time to a worthy cause."

According to a Western Union survey conducted by Wakefield Research, 66 percent of consumers plan to give to charities this holiday, while 36 percent believe it's their duty to donate to philanthropic causes regardless of their personal financial situation. The survey also revealed 50 percent believe that businesses, regardless of their financial health, are obligated to give to charity.

The survey also found 52 percent of consumers will give the gift of CASH this holiday season.

"Giving back is part of Western Union's commitment to the communities it serves. Fifty Days of Giving offers consumers the opportunity to decide where that support will go this holiday season," said Stewart A. Stockdale, President, The Americas and EVP Global Cards and Global Key Accounts, Western Union. "This holiday consumers are also making more wallet-conscious decisions, choosing to give through Western Union, whether it's through 50 Days of Giving.com or by sending the gift of CASH to family and friends."

To facilitate long-distance gift giving needs this holiday, Western Union is offering "$50 for $5;" consumers can send up to $50 to loved ones in the U.S. for a $5 fee. Consumers can also send the gift of CASH on a Western Union® prepaid gift card, overnight, with a personalized greeting card and voice message, exclusively at www.westernunion.com.

"Fifty Days of Giving is a multi-faceted, integrated consumer communications campaign designed to help raise giving awareness this holiday season," said Diane Robertson Scott, SVP Marketing, The Americas, Western Union. "Western Union is excited to lead a holiday campaign that focuses on how consumers choose to give, and give back, to their communities."

Campaign elements include, among others:

• Kick-off special performance featuring John Legend in New York City  
• Advertising via print, broadcast, radio, out-of-home, mobile and online channels showcasing the myriad of ways to give back
• Social media elements, dedicated Western Union tab on its Facebook page encouraging fans to vote for one of the five charitable causes

Through Western Union's Our World, Our Family® signature program, Western Union and the Western Union Foundation support initiatives to empower individuals, families and communities through access to better education and economic opportunity. Recognized by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy in 2009, the program is a five year, $50 million commitment reflecting the efforts of Western Union employees and Agents around the world. Since its inception in 2001, the Western Union Foundation has awarded more than $67 million in grants to more than 1,900 charitable organizations across 100 countries.

For more information or to vote, please visit www.50daysofgiving.com and www.westernunion.com.

The survey, commissioned by Western Union and conducted by Wakefield Research, polled 1,000 nationally representative American adults aged 18 years old and older between October 1 and October 6, 2010.

The Western Union® Gift Card is issued by MetaBank™ pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. INC. MetaBank; Member FDIC. A $2.50 per month servicing fee applies after 12 consecutive months of non-use.

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, as well as send payments and purchase money orders. The Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services are offered through a combined network of approximately 435,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories. In 2009, The Western Union Company completed 196 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $71 billion of principal between consumers, and 415 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

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SOURCE Western Union