Nearly half of U.S. residents said they donated cash to international disaster relief efforts over the past two years, according to a national poll commissioned by MoneyGram International, (NYSE: MGI), a global leader in the money transfer industry, and fielded by leading global market research firm, Opinion Research Corporation.

In that poll, 43 percent of respondents say they donated cash to fund international disaster relief efforts. Of those respondents, 87 percent gave to relief efforts related to the earthquake in Haiti, which marks its one year anniversary this month. The Chilean earthquake/tsunami that struck in February 2010 attracted the second most support at 22 percent.

?MoneyGram and our network of agents serve those who have been impacted by the natural disasters we've witnessed during the past two years, and supporting them is vitally important to us,? said Dan O'Malley, Executive Vice President of the Americas at MoneyGram International. ?One year after the earthquake, we wanted insight into how Americans responded to crises in other parts of the world. It's encouraging to learn that in spite of the recession and high unemployment rates, caring for our overseas neighbors affected by disaster remains very important to those in the U.S.?

Other key findings include:

  • 72 percent of those polled said they will donate about the same or more to international relief efforts in 2011.
  • The number-one reason (at 48 percent) respondents referenced for donating to international disaster relief efforts was ?impact on children.?
  • 27 percent of men and women between 18 to 34 indicated they will give more to international relief efforts in 2011, which is 10 percent higher than any other age group, while 23 percent of respondents between 18 to 44 plan to donate more to international relief in 2011, compared to only 8 percent of those ages 45 and up.
  • Among those polled who gave to international relief efforts since 2009, Haiti earthquake relief was the top choice for support. Haiti was the leading relief effort for respondents ages 18 to 34 at 95 percent, and ages 45 and older at 80 percent.
  • Since 2009, the Haiti earthquake disaster proved to be the number-one international relief effort among blacks, Hispanics and whites who gave to such causes. Among blacks and Hispanics, 94 percent and 96 percent, respectively, specifically supported Haitian relief efforts, as did 84 percent of whites.

MoneyGram's Commitment to Disaster Support

Last year, in response to the tragedy in Haiti, MoneyGram immediately reduced its fees to help Haitians living abroad send immediate relief to loved ones in Haiti. During the month of February, MoneyGram donated $2 to the American Red Cross for every transaction sent to Haiti from any one of its 200,000 global agent locations. The company also helped consumers support the Red Cross in its Haiti earthquake recovery efforts by providing its Bill Payment service as a mechanism to help get critical funding to the Red Cross.

MoneyGram's Global Giving Program issues grants to organizations around the globe, including those that respond in times of disaster. The program also awards grants for essential education and micro finance programs. Last year, MoneyGram awarded funds to programs in more than 35 countries.

The poll, commissioned by MoneyGram and executed by Opinion Research Corporation as part of its CARAVAN® Survey, is the result of a telephone survey conducted among a national probability sample of 1,011 adults comprising 500 men and 511 women 18 years of age and older, living in private households in the continental United States. Interviewing was completed between January 7-10, 2011. Margin of error was ± 5 percent.

About MoneyGram International

MoneyGram International, a leading global money transfer company, enables consumers who are not fully served by traditional financial institutions to meet their financial needs. MoneyGram offers money transfer services worldwide and bill payment services in the United States through a global network of more than 207,000 agent locations ? including retailers, international post offices and financial institutions ? in more than 190 countries and territories around the world. To learn more about money transfer or bill payment at an agent location or online, please visit www.moneygram.com or connect with us on Facebook.

MoneyGram International
Media Contact
Lynda Michielutti, 952-591-3846
lmichielutti@moneygram.com