BRAMA, March 19, 2001, 1:00pm EST

Western Union Implements Western Union® Helping Hands^sm Initiative in Partnership with Sister Cities Kiev-Chicago

Dancers from Ukrainian Dance Ensemble "Hromovytsia"

MONTVALE, N.J. (Feb. 28, 2001) - For years now, Western Union, a leading provider of money transfer services, has been assisting its customers in the United States and abroad with support of their educational and cultural initiatives. Today, company officials announced a new community relations initiative as part of the Western Union® Helping Hands^SM program.

Under Western Union® Helping Hands^SM, Western Union recently pledged $9,000 in support for the Sister Schools Abroad Program between Kyiv and Chicago. This donation was the largest contribution to a fundraising effort that exceeded the initial goal of $50,000. The money will enable Chicago Sister Cities International to purchase badly needed computers and photocopy machines for several under-funded sister schools in Kyiv and provide training for their use.

The initiative originated in Chicago, home to thousands of Ukrainian Americans and recent immigrants from the Ukraine as well as the Chicago Sister Cities International Program. In May the computers and other equipment purchased will be presented to the four sister schools in Kiev by, among others, representatives of Western Union.

"Our Western Union® Helping Hands^SM community relations effort to benefit the children of Ukraine is not a new concept to Western Union; rather, we're building on our commitment to our customers," commented Alton Campbell, Western Union Vice President, Chicago area. "It was a natural step to support our Ukrainian customers and their friends in Chicago in a noble quest to provide Ukrainian children with resources that will help them achieve their educational goals for the global economy."

$9,000 check from Western Union for Sister City Fund

The Western Union® Helping Hands^SM initiative was launched in 1999 as a corporate-wide, worldwide community relations effort. It was designed to respond to shared growing needs of Western Union consumers around the world. Western Union® Helping Hands^SM assesses the needs of different communities and provides assistance to immigrant groups in a variety of areas, ranging from education to health.

Over the course of 130 years, people have trusted Western Union to send their hard-earned money to their loved ones. Everyday Western Union sends money transfers - simply, safely, quickly, reliably, and for a price that's a fair value for a premium service.

Western Union continues to be a tradition across generations, helping to improve the everyday lives of families around the globe.

Western Union Financial Services, Inc. is one of the worldwide leaders in money transfer services. Famous for its pioneering telegraph services, the original Western Union dates back to 1851 and introduced electronic money transfer service in 1871. The company provides rapid money transfer services through more than 95,000 agent locations in 185 countries worldwide. Western Union celebrates its 150^th anniversary in 2001. Western Union is a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC). For further information about Western Union, please visit us on the Internet at www.westernunion.com.

The Chicago Sister City International Program was established in 1960. The Program has official relationships with 22 cities around the world, promoting exchanges in the areas of culture, sports, trade, education, medicine, social services, and economic development. In the year 2001, we will be celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the Chicago-Kyiv relationship as well as the 10^th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.

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