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

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."

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