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Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is lighting up Diwali with community celebrations and partnerships throughout the country. In addition to supporting Diwali Festivals and other events across the country, Wells Fargo is working to help bring smiles during the New Year by collaborating with Operation Smile to provide free surgeries for children in India born with cleft lip and cleft palate! From Sept. 15 to Oct. 26, Wells Fargo will donate $3 to Operation Smile, an international children’s medical charity, for every Wells Fargo ExpressSend® money transfer to India from an eligible account.*
At approximately $240 per surgery, the collaboration between Wells Fargo and Operation Smile is expected to help fund hundreds of life-changing surgeries for children and young adults in India. Wells Fargo will make a $25,000 minimum donation to Operation Smile with a maximum donation of $50,000. More information about the collaboration is available at www.wellsfargo.com/diwalismiles.
“Operation Smile is honored to be partnering with Wells Fargo this Diwali season,” said Lisa Jardanhazy, Corporate & Public Relations vice president for Operation Smile. “Every three minutes a child is born with a cleft. These children have twice the odds of dying before their first birthday, and those who survive have difficulty eating, speaking, hearing or breathing. We are grateful for Wells Fargo’s support to allow us to help these children, which truly falls in line with the giving and celebratory nature of Diwali.”
Additionally, for the second year, Wells Fargo is a major supporter of the Diwali celebration in Times Square in New York City on Sept. 20. This year, Wells Fargo developed a creative new trend by sharing the hashtag #DiwaliSmiles prior to the event on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram.
During the event there was a Digital Diya that was seen on the Nasdaq billboard and the Times Square billboard every time people used the hashtag, #DiwaliSmiles. People onsite and following online can help collectively raise the electronic diya’s flame until it reaches the top, and kick off the star-studded Bollywood concert and event. The Digital Diya was seen moving from one building to another every time someone used the hastag, #DiwaliSmiles! The team of Wells Fargo also hit the stage to light the actual Diya.
“At Wells Fargo, we’re committed to supporting the diverse communities where our customers live and work,” said Micky Randhawa, Wells Fargo’s East Bay Regional President. “We are looking forward to celebrating Diwali with our customers and team members at events like the one in Times Square, and online with #DiwaliSmiles. We’re thrilled to be partnering with an organization that helps make such a meaningful impact on the lives of children and young adults in India.“
Other Diwali events Wells Fargo will be supporting across the country this year, among many, include the Diwali Festival in Pleasanton, Calif. and a Bollywood Movie Night out in seven cities, including Washington D.C., Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey and the Bay Area.
*Open to residents of the 50 U.S. states and D.C. only. Void where prohibited. Wells Fargo will donate $3 to Operation Smile for each transfer made to India from an eligible ExpressSend account between 9/15/14-10/26/14. Wells Fargo will make a $25,000 minimum donation to Operation Smile with a maximum of $50,000. This does not constitute an endorsement of any product or service by Operation Smile. To learn more about Operation Smile visit: operationsmile.org
