MANILA, Philippines - MoneyGram hopes to put smiles on the faces of 10,000 children around the world, while bringing them closer to their education goals, through an effort with World Vision to provide new school supplies in more than a dozen countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. To kick off the new school year, which begins closer to the start of the calendar year in many countries, MoneyGram selected World Vision to receive a $100,000 donation in support of education in countries with the greatest identified need.
“Education is the first step to a productive life, which is why many MoneyGram customers working in other countries use our service to send money home to help their families prepare for the new school year,” said Juan Agualimpia, chief marketing officer of MoneyGram. “We’re pleased we can bring families closer together through our services, and especially happy to support education in communities where we work and live throughout the world.”
MoneyGram employees in Kenya, Romania and the Philippines will personally distribute school supplies to students in need. Children in additional countries where World Vision works will also benefit from this donation, including children in Albania, Ghana, Haiti, Laos, Rwanda and Vietnam.
“These areas are in particular need of school supplies, and we are so thankful for MoneyGram’s generous donation. It will give thousands of children the basics they need,” said Jeff Eichenlaub, the charity’s senior director of global corporate partnerships. “We’re also glad to see MoneyGram employees get involved in the distribution of supplies, so they can witness firsthand the important benefits of these efforts and see the difference they’re making in children’s lives.”
MoneyGram donated to World Vision because of the organization’s focus on fighting poverty by increasing educational opportunities for children in more than 100 countries around the world. Eichenlaub also noted the donation will support local economies by acquiring the school supplies in each country.
“We hope this donation will amplify the resources available to schools in important regions, while these children take a step toward a brighter future,” said Agualimpia.