Repeatedly, Western Union employees demonstrate their steadfast commitment to helping young people in the Denver Metro community – and around the world – understand and embrace financial literacy.  During the 2016/17 school year, 48 Western Union employees volunteered in classrooms at Fulton Elementary School in Aurora, Castro Elementary School in Denver, Cherokee Trail Elementary in Douglas County, and Rock Canyon High School.

To see Western Union Foundation dollars at work, foundation leaders joined staff for a fun day of teaching students about economics, money management, and careers at Fulton Elementary in April 2017.

“It was such a fantastic experience to teach JA Ourselves to kindergarteners. At the Western Union Foundation, our number one goal is empowering people to participate fully in the global economy by funding education and job-skills training for youth, including immigrants and refugees,” said Elizabeth Roscoe, executive director of the Western Union Foundation. “We’re proud to stand with like-minded organizations, and it’s always gratifying to see their great work in action!”

Since 2006, Western Union has been an outstanding JA-Rocky Mountain corporate partner, providing more than half a million dollars in financial support. In addition to volunteering in the classroom, at JA Finance Park, and at JA Business Week, Western Union staff also raise funds for JA by participating in the JA Bowl-A-Thon.  This past spring, staffers raised more than $70,000 to help young people build their skills, confidence and dreams for the future.

Carrie Damon, vice president of strategy for Western Union, also serves on the JA board of directors and lends her tremendous experience and knowledge to help guide the organization and meet the ever-changing needs of educators and students around financial education, work readiness skills and entrepreneurship.

“Carrie is a tremendous asset to the JA board of directors,” said JA Executive Vice President Kristi Shaffer. “She volunteers in classrooms every year and draws on that experience to inform the organization’s strategic direction. We highly value and appreciate everything Western Union and its employees do to benefit youth in Colorado and around the world.”

Western Union is a leader in global payment services. From small businesses and global corporations, to families near and far away, to NGOs in the most remote communities on Earth, Western Union helps people and businesses move money – to help grow economies and realize a better world.

The Western Union Foundation provides direct grants to non-governmental organizations that address economic opportunity through education, job training, life skills and small business development, financial literacy, community integration and educational assistance to migrants, immigrants and their families. In addition, when a natural disaster strikes, the foundation and the Western Union Company provide funding to help with immediate relief and future rebuilding efforts