P R E S S
Date:
R E L E A S E
November 12, 2012
From:
Financial Service Centers of America
Cindy Vega, MWW Group, 201.231.6029
______________________________________________________________________
cvega@mww.com
cvega@mww.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FiSCA Joins Forces with MoneyGram and Western Union
To Support Relief Efforts to Hurricane Stricken Areas
Mobilizes Financial Service Center Industry Nationwide in Crucial Fundraiser Efforts
(Washington, D.C., November 12, 2012) Financial Service Centers of America (FiSCA) is joining
forces with industry partners Western Union and MoneyGram to support their Hurricane Sandy
relief efforts. FiSCA members operate Financial Service Centers across the United States, many
in areas affected by the hurricane. They also serve as agents for MoneyGram and Western
Union. As such, FiSCA members are ideally positioned to partner with them to raise funds for
those areas of the Northeast devastated by the hurricane.
“In the wake of one of the most catastrophic storms in U.S. history, MoneyGram and Western
Union have stepped up to the plate with major fundraising programs that will benefit those who
were affected. We urge our members to vigorously support these efforts,” said Joseph M. Doyle,
FiSCA Chairman.
In support of Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts, MoneyGram will make a $1 donation per
transaction up to $200,000 to the American Red Cross for each money transfer sent in November
to areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy (New Jersey, Southern New York, Connecticut and
Eastern Pennsylvania). Additionally, MoneyGram is also waiving the transaction fee for
customers who make donations to the American Red Cross using its ExpressPayment® service
FiSCA members who are MoneyGram agents are urged to “match” the $1 MoneyGram donation
per money transfer sent to the affected areas.
“During a crisis, every minute and every dollar count. Our goal is to make it easier to send
money to the areas impacted most by Hurricane Sandy,” said Pamela Patsley, Chairman and
CEO, MoneyGram. “We are working closely with the American Red Cross and our U.S. agents
to ensure money sent to this area will quickly and reliably get to the people who need it most.”
Following through on its commitment to support the communities it serves, Western Union,
through the Western Union Foundation Agent Gift Match Program, will donate up to USD
$400,000 to help support Hurricane Sandy disaster relief efforts. The Western Union Agent Gift
Match Program matches one-for-one Agent donations to eligible nonprofit organizations.
Together, with initial grants, Western Union, its Agents and employees will contribute, to date,
up to $475,000.
FiSCA Joins Forces with MoneyGram and Western Union in Relief Efforts to Hurricane Stricken Areas
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In addition, between now and November 30th Western Union is enabling people in the U.S. to
give to the American Red Cross as part of a “no transfer fee” program using the Western Union®
Quick Collect® or Payments Service Form. These donations can be made at participating
Western Union® Agent locations across the U.S.
Hikmet Ersek, President and CEO, Western Union said, “Keeping with its commitment to
support the communities it serves, Western Union continues to work closely with its Agents,
employees and the NGO community in support of Hurricane Sandy disaster relief efforts. The
company recognizes the need to help balance immediate support and long-term needs and has
implemented a number of programs that include direct support through grants, and mobilizing
consumers, employees and Agent giving.”
“FiSCA is proud to partner with its industry partners to provide aid to storm-devastated areas.
While Hurricane Sandy proved a terrible disaster for many, efforts like these will demonstrate,
yet again, the resiliency of our industry and its commitment to each other, our employees and our
communities we serve,” stated Doyle.
About FiSCA
FiSCA, founded in 1987, is the national trade association for more than 6,500 individual
financial service centers across the United States. FiSCA members provide a wide variety of
financial services and products to their communities, including check cashing, money orders,
money transfers, and electronic bill payment services, automatic teller machine access,
government benefit and payroll payments, small dollar short-term loans, electronic tax
preparation, prepaid debit cards, deposit acceptance services, public transportation fare and token
sales, motor vehicle license plate and title distribution, postage stamp sales and numerous other
services. For more information, please visit www.fisca.org.
About MoneyGram
MoneyGram, a leading global money transfer company, enables consumers who are not fully
served by traditional financial institutions to meet their financial needs. MoneyGram offers
money transfer services worldwide and bill payment services in the United States and Canada
through a global network of more than 284,000 agent locations—including retailers,
international post offices and financial institutions—in 196 countries and territories around the
world. To learn more about money transfer or bill payment at an agent location or online, please
visit moneygram.com or connect with us on Facebook.
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, to send payments and to purchase
money orders. As of September 30, 2012, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded
services were offered through a combined network of approximately 510,000 agent locations in
200 countries and territories. In 2011, The Western Union Company completed 226 million
FiSCA Joins Forces with MoneyGram and Western Union in Relief Efforts to Hurricane Stricken Areas
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consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $81 billion of principal between
consumers, and 425 million business payments. For more information, visit
www.westernunion.com.
About The Western Union Foundation
The Western Union Foundation is dedicated to creating a better world, where the ability to
realize dreams through economic opportunity is not just a privilege for the few but a right for all.
With the support of the Western Union Company, its employees, Agents, and business partners,
the Western Union Foundation works to realize this vision by supporting education and disaster
relief efforts as pathways toward a better future. Our combined social ventures efforts make life
better for individuals, families and communities around the world. Since its inception,
the Western Union Foundation has awarded more than $81.7 million in grants to more than
2,551 nongovernmental organizations in more than 124 countries and territories. To learn more,
visit www.westernunionfoundation.org.
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