PLS, Western Union Team Up on Contribution to Chicago’s Pacific Garden Mission

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) July 19, 2011

“How can we make a donation that helps the greatest number of people in immediate need? By contributing to the Pacific Garden Mission,” says Bob Wolfberg, President, PLS. “And how can we double the impact of that contribution? By joining forces with the Western Union Foundation.”

From its association with the Pacific Garden Mission on Chicago’s South Side, PLS knows how far a contribution can go. The Pacific Garden Mission, located at 1458 S. Canal Street, provides food, shelter, clothing and medical care to homeless men, women and children throughout the Chicago area.

On an average night, over 700 homeless men, women and children receive safe, clean and warm shelter at the Mission. During the cold winter months, that number can climb above 900. Everything is provided free of charge to all who enter “the doors that never close.”

“The Pacific Garden Mission is a longtime refuge for the most needy in our community,” said Wolfberg. “As a good neighbor, we’re very thankful that we’re able to help them in their work.”

Doubling the donation through the Western Union Foundation

PLS had planned to make a $7,500 charitable donation to the Mission—an amount that doubled when the company invited the Western Union Foundation to get involved.

The Western Union Foundation’s “Agent Giving Circles” program assists Western Union Agents in supporting their local communities. PLS received dollar-for-dollar matching funds for its contribution to the Pacific Garden Mission, for a combined total of $15,000.

“PLS is one of Western Union’s top check casher Agents,” noted Rob Koewler, Director of Strategic Accounts for Western Union. “We’re very pleased to match their contribution total with funds from the Western Union Foundation, so their donation would have double impact.”

“We’re very grateful to our friends at PLS and the Western Union Foundation,” said Pastor Philip Kwiatkowski, Pacific Garden Missions’ VP-Ministries. “Their generous contribution will allow us to extend more help and comfort to those in our community in the greatest need.”

About PLS: People. Location. Service.
The PLS Group, headquartered in Chicago, manages more than 300 financial services centers in Alabama, Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, New York, Texas and Wisconsin, with more than 3,100 employees. PLS is one of the largest, fastest-growing and most distinguished organizations in the check cashing industry, and is a top performer for Western Union, a money transfer network.

PLS has been listed on Inc. magazine’s “5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America” for the past two years, and for three consecutive years has been named one of the “101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in Chicago” by the National Association of Business Resources. For the past four years, PLS has been named one of Chicago’s Largest Privately Held Companies by Crain’s Chicago Business®, and was a member of Crain’s “Fast 50” (Fastest Growing Companies). Bob and Dan Wolfberg, PLS Presidents, were finalists for Ernst & Young’s 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The company has also been honored with the Activa Award from the Financial Service Centers of America (FiSCA) in recognition of its charitable efforts.

The PLS Group serves customers through its PLS Check Cashers stores, which offer check cashing, prepaid Visa debit cards, money transfer services, money orders and bill payments; PLS Loan Store locations, which provide consumer short-term loans, auto insurance and tax-preparation services; and PLS Motor Vehicle Services facilities, which offer vehicle license and registration services.

About Western Union
The Western Union Company is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union</org> provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to purchase money orders. The Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services are offered through a combined network of approximately 455,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories. In 2010, The Western Union Company completed 214 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $76 billion of principal between consumers, and 405 million business payments. For more information, visit http://www.westernunion.com
About the Western Union Foundation
Through Western Union’s Our World, Our Family® signature program, the Western Union Foundation supports initiatives to empower people through access to economic opportunity. Recognized by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy in 2009, the program is a five-year, $50 million commitment reflecting efforts made by Western Union employees, agents and partners around the world. Since its inception, the Western Union Foundation has awarded more than $73.8 million in grants to more than 2033 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in 108 countries and territories. To learn more, visit http://foundation.westernunion.com

About The Pacific Garden Mission
The Pacific Garden Mission is the oldest continuously operating rescue mission in the U.S. In addition to food, clothing, shelter and medical care, the Mission offers ministry and job training to thousands in need throughout the Chicago area. The Pacific Garden Mission accepts no government funding; all of its operating expenses are covered by donations. To support the Pacific Garden Mission’s work, or for more information, call 312-492-9410 or visit pgm.org

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