MoneyGram International Announces $250,000 American Red Cross Grant for Ongoing Relief in Haiti; Sets 2010 Priorities

MINNEAPOLIS – MoneyGram International (NYSE:MGI), a leading global payment services company, announced today that its MoneyGram Global Giving program has expanded its support for recovery in Haiti to include a minimum $250,000 grant to the American Red Cross. Through June 30, MoneyGram will donate $2 from every transaction sent to Haiti as a donation for relief services.

“Recovery in Haiti will be ongoing and remittances to family members will continue to be a critical component,” said Alex Holmes, MoneyGram International senior vice president and chairman of the MoneyGram Global Giving program. “For many in Haiti, our money transfer services are essential and providing $2 per transaction to the American Red Cross through June is part of our ongoing comprehensive response for Haiti.”

The latest grant support follows grants to the Pan American Development Foundation for earthquake relief in Haiti and Chile and activation of MoneyGram’s ExpressPayment® service for free cash donations from consumers to the American Red Cross that runs through April 12. Consumers have donated more than $85,000 for relief in Haiti with MoneyGram’s ExpressPayment service.

In addition to disaster response, in 2010 the MoneyGram Global Giving program will provide grants around the world for microfinance programs and essential education services. The company will also continue its support of Habitat for Humanity International.

In 2009, MoneyGram’s $1 million of community support helped build homes, deliver basic needs and education services, and supported consumers with urgent fee relief following natural disasters in several countries.

“In 2009, we continued our work in enriching the lives of the people and communities who rely on our money transfer services,” said Holmes. “Whether it’s providing a grant to a deserving group that helps boost literacy, helping build homes through Habitat for Humanity, or responding in times of disaster, we’re proud to give back to the global communities that rely on our services.”

MoneyGram provided nearly $500,000 in funding for Habitat for Humanity International and grants to other programs in 25 countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Nepal and Russia. In China, MoneyGram contributed to ChinaSource, an agency providing programs to support Chinese migrants arriving in central China. In India, the company provided funding for disaster response provided by the International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies and funding for grants to help youth gain essential literacy skills including support for the Vatsalya Foundation, which provides educational services for children in the areas around Mumbai.

For the sixth consecutive year, MoneyGram provided the funding to build homes in several countries, including China, Colombia and the Philippines, through Habitat for Humanity International. MoneyGram employees also helped, giving their time and energy to build homes in Denver, Miami, Minneapolis and Sichuan Province, China, as part of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

Additionally, MoneyGram responded to urgent needs following disasters in several countries in 2009, including El Salvador, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Samoa and Tonga, by providing cash grants and money transfer fee reductions. The fee reductions totaled more than $500,000 in savings and allowed friends and families to send desperately needed money to relatives in disaster-stricken areas at free or reduced rates.

For more information on MoneyGram’s Global Giving program visit www.moneygram.com/giving or e-mail [email protected].