MoneyGram Launches Round-the-World Relay to Spread Holiday Magic to Children in Eight Countries

For many people around the world, the holiday season is usually a time of happiness, yet for others, it is a time of increased struggle and stress in trying to meet significant and unmet needs. To help spread some holiday magic to those in need, MoneyGram launched a round-the-world relay to support the educational needs of some children across eight countries and four continents.

MoneyGram’s "Spreading Holiday Magic " program is a relay-style program in which the company will distribute more than $50,000 in much-needed money, school supplies and learning tools to 11 schools in eight countries. The relay kicked-off today with a special event at John F. Peeler Elementary School in Dallas, Texas, home to MoneyGram’s global headquarters.

During the next several weeks, MoneyGram will deliver holiday magic to schools in:

• Los Angeles
• New York
• Ghana
• Haiti
• Italy
• Mexico
• Philippines
• Romania
• Russia

"Our round-the-world relay is intended to spread the magic of the holidays to schools in need, and bring important learning tools to less fortunate children,” said Pamela H. Patsley, chairman and chief executive officer of MoneyGram. "We hope that we’re able to make this time of year a little brighter for these school children and to encourage learning in the classroom as we firmly believe in the magic of education.”

At each leg of the relay, MoneyGram officials will visit the selected schools and present the new supplies and learning tools to the children.

Holiday blog encourages students to share thoughts

As part of the program, MoneyGram launched the blog -- www.moneygram.com/holidaymagic -- to give the children at the schools – and globally – the forum to share holiday greetings and words of encouragement to children at the next school in the global relay.

"Spreading Holiday Magic” is an extension of MoneyGram’s global holiday marketing campaign in which the company encourages consumers to "enjoy the magic of the holidays, send money around the world, and watch the happiness grow” in a series of print ads and TV commercials.

This community initiative is a natural extension of MoneyGram’s global marketing campaign and Global Giving program. Annually, the company gives approximately $500,000 to non-profit organizations around the world for essential education needs and disaster recovery programs.

Those interested in learning more about MoneyGram services and locations and its Global Giving program can visit www.moneygram.com. In addition, consumers interested in learning more about safe, efficient money transfers this holiday season, including ways to prevent fraud, can access MoneyGram’s Money Transfer Fraud Education Center at www.moneygram-preventfraud.com.

About MoneyGram International

MoneyGram International, a leading money transfer company, enables consumers who are not fully served by traditional financial institutions to meet their financial needs. MoneyGram offers bill payment services in the United States and money transfer services worldwide through a global network of more than 256,000 agent locations -- including retailers, international post offices and financial institutions -- in 192 countries and territories. To learn more about money transfer or bill payment at an agent location or online, please visit http://www.moneygram.com or connect with us on Facebook.