Western Union Foundation Donates US$50,000 Towards Earthquake Relief Efforts in Alajuela, Costa Rica

To help the earthquake victims of Alajuela, Costa Rica, The Western Union Foundation today donated US$50,000 to the Costa Rican Red Cross, a humanitarian relief organization. The grant is part of the Western Union Our World, Our Family^SM global initiative.

Additionally, for individuals and corporations in the United States wishing to donate to disaster relief efforts in Alajuela, Costa Rica, The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) has set up a Quick Collect® account benefiting the Costa Rican Red Cross.

Western Union will provide U.S. customers with no fee Quick Collect® money transfer services for donations up to US$1,000 until March 2, 2009. Customers should make donations by requesting code city EARTHQUAKERELIEF CR (in the U.S. only). The code should enter EARTHQUAKERELIEF, CR in the account field.

Western Union Foundation President Luella Chavez D’Angelo said, "The earthquake damages to Alajuela and other parts of Costa Rica are catastrophic, leaving families and children in need of help. The Western Union Foundation and our Western Union employees in Costa Rica are committed to helping those in needs.”

"The Costa Rican Red Cross will invest the funds to assist 5,000 families who lost their homes, by addressing their basic humanitarian and early recovery needs including the distribution of emergency supplies, hygiene products, non-perishable food and clean water,” said Miguel Carmona, President of the Costa Rican Red Cross.

Western Union's Our World, Our Family^SM is a five-year, $50 million signature program designed to provide communities with the skills, knowledge and resources essential to breaking the cycle of poverty. The program is framed around four areas: Our World Gives; Our World Learns; Our World Strives and Our World Speaks, with each pillar given equal attention towards helping families stay connected, overcome barriers and realize their dreams.

For more information about The Western Union Foundation, please visit foundation.westernunion.com.

About The Western Union Foundation

Through the donations of The Western Union Company, its employees and Agents, The Western Union Foundation helps to fund programs that create economic opportunity around the world. Embracing the truly global nature of its corporate sponsor, The Western Union Foundation has granted nearly $48 million to more than 1,750 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in 70 countries. For more information, visit foundation.westernunion.com.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) is a leader in global money transfer services. Together with its Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded money transfer services, Western Union provides consumers with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, as well as send payments and purchase money orders. It operates through a combined network of more than 365,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph services, the original Western Union dates back to 1851. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

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