DENVER, CO, JUNE 20, 2019 – Some 51.2 million people live as refugees and internally displaced people around the world, forced to choose between safety and their family and the comforts of home. Of those, 46 percent are children under the age of 18. This World Refugee Day, June 20th, the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming is partnering with Western Union and the Western Union Foundation, joining the global community to draw attention to the needs of refugees and the ways in which people can help shoulder their burden.
Western Union and the Western Union Foundation have pledged $100,000 to support the American Red Cross Restoring Family Links Program which helps to reunite families torn apart by war, separated during natural disasters and through separation caused by conflict.
“Armed conflicts and natural disasters leave millions of people around the globe in urgent need of humanitarian assistance every year,” said Gino Greco, CEO of the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming. “As a community with a vibrant refugee population, we are directly tied to what happens in seemingly far off places. While providing shelter and relief supplies are the most visible ways we help, the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming also makes a difference around the world, as well as here at home, with our Restoring Family Links program.”
“We are proud to call Colorado home and partner with the Red Cross, lifting up people and communities across the world who have been affected by natural disasters and forced migration,” VP and Executive Director of the Western Union Foundation, Elizabeth Roscoe said. “Whether connecting displaced individuals to the global economy though our education programs or helping families reconnect after devastation, we proudly stand with refugees every day.”
Knowing the needs of the refugee community goes far beyond World Refugee Day, the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming and Western Union are committed to helping people all year long. Every day, the American Red Cross—as part of our International Family Tracing Services program—transmits messages from all over the world to help families who have lost touch with their loved ones reconnect. Globally, over the last year the Red Cross and Red Crescent network facilitated the exchange of thousands of messages between families separated by disaster and conflict.
Last year, the American Red Cross worked on behalf of 4,421 people from countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Somalia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Bosnia, South Sudan, and Rwanda who were seeking to reconnect or keep in touch with their families. As part of the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming International Services mission, our volunteers assisted 62 people separated by wars or international disasters to reconnect with loved ones.
Join us in recognition of World Refugee Day and help make an impact at home and overseas by:
- Volunteering your time with the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming to reconnect families;
- Donating money or hosting a fundraiser for local Restoring Family Links activities and other American Red Cross services; and
- Taking steps to prepare for future disasters and Be Red Cross Ready.
Learn more about the Reconnecting Family Links (RFL) program at https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/international-services.html.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
About the Western Union Foundation
The Western Union Foundation believes that education is one of the surest pathways to economic opportunity. Through collaborations with NGOs around the world, the Foundation has embarked on a mission to connect 50,000 migrants, refugees, women and youth to the global economy through demand-driven skills training and workforce enablement programs by 2020. The Foundation also offers a global scholarship program that helps put a post-secondary education in reach for in-need students studying in the STEM fields and business. To date, more than $120 million has been given to fund projects affecting more than 820,000 people in 137 countries across the globe, including disaster relief for communities in crisis. The Western Union Foundation is a separate charitable corporation that is tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code, and receives support from The Western Union Company, its employees, agents and business partners. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible for US income tax purposes. To learn more, visit www.westernunionfoundation.org or follow us on Twitter @TheWUFoundation.