Donation Matched 6 to 1 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the
Next Three Years
DENVER, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Arguing with your son about what
sport to play this season or with your daughter for tying up the phone line
are things most parents could do without, but for more than 50,000 U.S.
parents, these daily challenges would be welcomed. Instead, parents with
children affected by Fragile X face seizures, daily medicating, speech classes
and therapy. At least 48,000 people in the United States have Fragile X, the
most common inherited cause of mental retardation, learning disabilities and
the leading known cause for autism.
Today, in celebration of National Fragile X Research Day, which is October
5th, the First Data Western Union Foundation in partnership with TravelCenters
of America announce a donation to FRAXA Research Foundation, the largest
nonprofit organization aimed at the treatment and cure of Fragile X. The two
companies pledged ongoing support for medical research through 2006 with a
joint annual donation of $50,000. Through FRAXA's existing agreement with the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), the combined Western Union and
TravelCenters of America donation will be matched six-to-one for the next
three years, bringing the total amount of new research funded to more than
$1 million.
"We are grateful to First Data Western Union Foundation and TravelCenters
of America for their monetary support to this under funded cause," said Katie
Clapp, president of FRAXA. "It is through donations like these and endless
hours of meaningful research that we can get closer to a cure and better
understand Fragile X's implications."
Fragile X is the leading known cause of autism, accounting for
7-12 percent of all cases of autism. It is inherited and causes an
underproduction of a protein critical for mental development. Fragile X
affects about one out of every 4,000 boys and one out of every 8,000 girls
making it more common than muscular dystrophy or cystic fibrosis. One in
every 267 women is a carrier, and 70 percent of Fragile X children are born
into families with no prior history of mental impairment. Fragile X also
results in mental impairment ranging from mild learning disabilities to severe
mental retardation and can also include seizures, aggressive outbursts and
severe anxiety.
According to Nobel Laureate Dr. James Watson, who discovered the structure
of DNA 50 years ago, "FRAXA has been hugely effective in raising money and
inducing Congress to support Fragile X research. Experience shows that
dedicated, resourceful, and, above all, motivated organizations like FRAXA
sometimes do hold the key to cracking these diseases against the long odds.
To those who take the biggest gambles -- financial and scientific --
sometimes, with luck, come the greatest rewards."
"Our business is about more than sending money to loved ones -- it's about
making meaningful contributions that improve the lives of loved ones in the
communities we serve," said Luella D'Angelo, president First Data Western
Union Foundation. "Through our Agent Corporate Gift Match program we matched
the donation that TravelCenters of America wanted to make to FRAXA so that
together we could make a greater impact in the search of a cure for Fragile
X."
"Although Fragile X is prevalent, it is unknown to most people," said Ara
Bagdasarian, trustee of the Ohio FRAXA Chapter and a marketing executive for
TravelCenters of America. "I had never heard of Fragile X until our two
children were diagnosed with it. I am extremely grateful that TravelCenters
of America and First Data Western Union Foundation together are supporting
this meaningful cause which affects my children and thousands of others
worldwide. Generous financial support like this generates much needed
awareness and funds the efforts of many talented researchers and scientists
that are dedicated to finding an effective treatment, or cure for the
disorder."
Currently, treating symptoms is the only option and the available
interventions -- drugs, special education, psychological counseling -- are of
limited help. FRAXA-funded research has already achieved significant
breakthroughs in understanding Fragile X, and it appears likely that
treatments now being investigated can potentially benefit all individuals with
Fragile X, regardless of age.
About First Data Western Union Foundation, Western Union Financial
Services, Inc. and First Data Corp.
First Data Western Union Foundation, a charitable initiative of First Data
Corporation and Western Union, believes in making the world a better place.
The Foundation has an ongoing commitment to support education, health and
human service programs in the United States and selected regions
internationally that improve and enhance the lives of individuals, families
and communities most in need. The First Data Western Union Foundation is
supported by gifts from First Data Corporation, Western Union Financial
Services, Inc., Western Union Agents, vendors, employees and other individual
donors who believe in the mission of the Foundation. For more information,
please visit the foundation's Web site at http://www.firstdatawesternunion.org .
Western Union Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corp.
(NYSE: FDC), is an international leader in consumer money transfer services.
Consumers can quickly and reliably pay bills and transfer money around the
globe using the company's proprietary money transfer network. Western Union
and its subsidiary, Orlandi Valuta, together make up one of the world's
largest money transfer networks with approximately 165,000 Agent locations in
more than 195 countries and territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph
service, the original Western Union dates back to 1851 and introduced
electronic money transfer service in 1871. For more information, please visit
the company's Web site at http://www.westernunion.com .
First Data Corp., with global headquarters in Denver, helps power the
global economy. Serving approximately 3 million merchant locations,
1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers, First Data makes it easy, fast
and secure for people and businesses to buy goods and services, using
virtually any form of payment: credit, debit, smart card, stored-value card
or check at the point-of-sale, over the Internet or by money transfer. For
more information, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.firstdata.com .
TravelCenters of America (TA)
TravelCenters of America, headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, is the largest
network of full-service travel centers in the country, employing 10,500 people
at more than 152 interstate highway sites in 41 states and Canada.
FRAXA Research Foundation
FRAXA Research Foundation was founded in 1994 by three parents of children
with Fragile X syndrome. FRAXA's goal is to accelerate research aimed at the
treatment and cure of Fragile X, by direct funding of promising research
projects and by raising awareness of this disease. FRAXA is a nonprofit,
tax-exempt charity run by parents of children with Fragile X syndrome. Nobel
Laureates Dr. James Watson and Dr. Eric Kandel are both FRAXA Research
Foundation Scientific Advisors.
FDC-1
SOURCE Western Union Financial Services, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.firstdata.com
http://www.westernunion.com
http://www.firstdatawesternunion.org
CONTACT:
Danielle Jimenez of Western Union,
+1-303-967-6062, danielle.jimenez@firstdatacorp.com
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