Fidelity Group & Western Union Foundation donate to assist victims of Typhoon Haiyan in The Philippines
By Kimberley Miller From thebahamasweekly
Nassau, Bahamas – Fidelity Group in cooperation with The Western Union Foundation, today announced a donation of $19,060 to Save the Children Federation, Inc., to provide disaster relief and recovery support for communities and families in The Philippines after it was hit by Typhoon Haiyan.
Under the Western Union Foundation Business Partner Gift Match program, the Foundation provides a dollar-for-dollar match of qualifying Western Union business partner contributions to NGOs providing disaster relief support in impacted regions around the world.
The Fidelity Group donation was matched dollar-for-dollar, for a total grant of $19,060 that will help the Save the Children Federation, Inc. The relief operation, of which Save the Children is part, has scaled up substantially, especially in Tacloban City. Significant food and medical assistance are being provided to residents there.
This funding will aid in the response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Save the Children’s activities in this period of immediate and urgent need will include:
· Sending teams to affected areas to conduct rapid assessments of need.
· Setting up operational centers in the city of Tacloban and in Ormoc City on Leyte Island.
· Transporting and distributing relief materials from our pre-positioned, in-country stocks and shipping large quantities of relief via aircraft from our warehouses worldwide. Materials include tarps and tents for temporary shelters, blankets, mobile health clinics, newborn care kits of clothing and hygiene supplies, family hygiene and household kits, water storage containers and water purification and testing equipment.
· Fielding a team of 12 doctors, nurses and technicians to provide medical care in devastated communities and in evacuation centers.
· Prioritizing the rapid procurement of high-energy biscuits and supplies for infants because of the high risk of malnutrition and mortality among this age group.
· Including rice, canned fish and noodles in our relief distributions because of the great need for food in Tacloban and other regions.
· Protecting children from further harm and providing them with psychosocial support so that they can manage the tremendous sense of loss, anxiety and fear.
· Addressing water and sanitary needs.
“Through generous donations by staff and with combined efforts from the Western Union Foundation, a donation totaling $19,060 was made to relief efforts in the Philippines,” said Anwer Sunderji, CEO of the Fidelity Group of Companies. “A donation of this type is an excellent example of collaborative goodwill and will ensure leading charities in the Philippines will have the resources they need to help victims of the typhoon.”
“The Western Union Foundation collaborates with business partners to give back to the people and communities we serve, particularly in times of need,” said Patrick Gaston, president, Western Union Foundation. “We are on one accord with the staff of the Fidelity Group to aid in the relief and rehabilitation of the victims of Typhoon Haiyan as we do our part to assist the Filipino residents on their path back to recovery.”
About Fidelity Group
Fidelity Group (FBT) is a bank holding company incorporated in The Bahamas with licensed retail banking subsidiaries in The Bahamas and the Cayman Islands. FBT operates primarily in the personal banking segment and has consolidated assets of over $600 million. FBT also has a joint venture with Royal Bank of Canada which provides investment banking, corporate finance, and wealth management services through a 50/50 ownership of Royal Fidelity Merchant Bank &Trust Limited, which has operations in The Bahamas and Barbados.
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. Through its signature program, Education for Better, and 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 committed more than $91.2 million in grants and other giving to more than 2,682 nongovernmental organizations in more than 133 countries and territories. The Western Union Foundation, is a separate §501(c)(3) recognized United States charity. To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org.
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