Western Union customer wins $10,000 by transfering funds to son in Odesa

LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Joseph Sammarco, a winner of the Western Union Wallet of Fortune Promotion, won $10,000 that was presented to him during a ceremony in Lakewood, N.J. Western Union customers who sent money from the United States to participating international Western Union agent locations during the promotional period had a chance to win over $100,000 in prizes.

Mr. Sammarco had used the Western Union service many times before, but it was his December 2000 Western Union Money Transfer to his son in Odesa that brought him $10,000 in cash.

Winners of past Western Union promotions also have won prizes by sending money to Eastern Europe. Arkadyi Sirotenko, an immigrant from Lviv, and Catalin Ciocan from Bucharest, both won trips for two to their hometowns in 1999, while Dimitri Markevitch from Russia collected over $46,000 in cash during a bank vault run in December of 1998.

"It feels wonderful to be the winner of the Western Union Wallet of Fortune Sweepstakes," said Mr. Sammarco during the presentation ceremony. "I am also grateful to Western Union for providing me with great service and helping me stay connected with my son, Gavin, while he was a student at the Odesa University in Ukraine.

Twenty-year-old Gavin, who took courses in Odesa last year is now back in the United States and is continuing his education in San Francisco. The prize from Western Union will help pay for his education.

Alexander Gomellya, Western Union's assistant marketing manager for Eastern Europe, and Grazyna Bulka, international market development manager, presented Mr. Sammarco the $10,000 check and congratulated him on winning. "We at Western Union know how important it is for our customers to be able to transfer money safely and fast to loved ones far away," said Gomellya. "Every day we strive to provide our customers with the best service they deserve, and this promotion was a way to thank them for using our services."

Western Union Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), is a world leader in money transfer services. The company this year celebrates its 150 anniversary.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, October 28, 2001, No. 43, Vol. LXIX

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