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Western Union to Support United Farm Workers Foundation Efforts to Improve the lives of Farm Workers, Migrants and their Families; Sponsor of 10th Annual Cesar Chavez Walk

Western Union to Support United Farm Workers Foundation Efforts to Improve the lives of Farm Workers, Migrants and their Families 

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Mar 28, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — WU | news | PowerRating | PR Charts — The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a global leader in money-transfer services, today announced it will sponsor The United Farm Workers (UFW) Foundation 10th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Walk and Festival to benefit farm workers, migrants and their families in the U.S.

Following through on its commitment to empower migrant communities through education and global economic opportunity programs, Western Union’s $25,000 commitment is part of its Our World, Our Family(SM) global initiative. Proceeds will help support part of the UFW Foundation research efforts, civic engagement, and community education programs.

"One paycheck at a time, one family at a time, and one community at a time, farm workers and migrants are transforming our world," said Mario Hernandez, director, community relations for Western Union. "They are changing how we think about public policy and providing new answers and new optimism. They are everyday heroes, the world’s greatest givers, and we are proud to take a leadership role in supporting them in realizing their dreams."

The UFW Foundation Board President, Arturo Rodriguez added, "Western Union’s generous show of support underscores its commitment to further Cesar Chavez’s legacy of justice for farm workers."

Our World, Our Family is a $50 million, five-year joint initiative of the Western Union Company and the Western Union Foundation. Since its launch, the Western Union Our World, Our Family initiative has granted more than $5 million to more than 150 non-profit organizations worldwide.

The Our World, Our Family initiative is the result of extensive research. During its development, Western Union consulted with leaders in corporate philanthropy and experts in global migration as well as its own consumers, employees and Agents. The program is framed around four pillars or focus areas: Our World Gives; Our World Learns; Our World Strives and Our World Speaks. Each pillar is designed to address the critical needs and challenges of the world’s migrant population.

With more than 10,000 people expected to attend, Western Union will join the UFW Foundation and community leaders at The 10th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Walk and Festival. The event will take place Saturday, March 29 in Downtown Los Angeles at La Placita Olvera (Olvera Street). Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. PDT with the walk starting at 11:00 a.m. PDT and the Festival at 1:00 p.m. PDT.

About Western Union

Western Union, 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 335,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.WesternUnion.com.

About The United Farm Workers Foundation

The UFW Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization inspired by the United Farm Workers’ first president and founder, Cesar Estrada Chavez. The organization’s mission is to empower and improve the lives of farm workers and other low-income and immigrant workers through (1) the advancement of research, implementation, and enforcement of equitable policy, (2) civic engagement, and (3) community education. The walk is the Foundation’s largest and premiere community education event.

SOURCE: Western Union

Western Union Dan Diaz, 720-332-5564 Daniel.Diaz@WesternUnion.com