Make-A-Wish Alum Gives Back During Holiday Season

Make-A-Wish recipient Klara Pedersen of Sewell, New Jersey was determined once again this holiday season to give back to Make-A-Wish, the organization that granted her a life-changing wish in 2018. Klara and her sister Lily collected holiday letters for Macy’s as part of their National Believe Campaign, and this year, delivered 1,785 letters to Macy’s in West Deptford during National Believe Week on Friday, December 3rd.

From the start of the Believe campaign through its final day on December 24th, for every letter sent to Santa online at macys.com/believe or dropped off in Macy’s stores, Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million. During National Believe Week from November 28th through December 4th, when Klara and Lily proudly delivered their letters, Macy’s pledged $2 for each letter collected, up to an extra $1 million above the existing $1 million campaign goal, to help create life-changing wishes for children fighting critical illnesses.

Klara’s wish for an Action Trackchair was granted at the beginning of the summer of 2018. It was the New Jersey chapter’s historic 10,000th wish. Klara, who battles a critical illness, knew this high-powered wheelchair with special treads around the wheels would give her a sense of freedom she had never experienced. As a family that enjoys hiking and exploring local nature preserves near their home, Klara’s wish was in many senses, a wish to enjoy - in her own way - the lifestyle of the great outdoors she, her sister and her parents have always loved.

Klara and Lily rallied the community around this year’s Believe Campaign – letters came in from Mantua Township School District, East Greenwich Schools, Salem County Adult Day Care, and schools in West Deptford and Southampton.

With support from the Macy’s Believe campaign, Make-A-Wish provides children with critical illnesses the chance to experience life beyond their illness and see their most heartfelt wish come true, allowing them to replace fear with confidence, anxiety with hope and sadness with joy. Since 2003, Macy’s has donated more than $137 million to Make-A-Wish, including more than $25 million through the retailer’s annual Believe campaign, helping grant more than 16,200 wishes.

For more information about Make-A-Wish New Jersey, visit nj.wish.org.

About Make-A-Wish® New Jersey
Make-A-Wish New Jersey creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. In the fight against a critical illness, a wish serves as a catalyst for renewed strength and encouragement for every child and family on their journey. A wish helps kids look past their limitations, families overcome anxiety and entire communities experience joy. Most importantly, wishes can improve a child’s quality of life. We believe a single wish transforms lives. With their national headquarters based in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is one of the world’s leading children’s charities, with 59 chapters serving children in every community in the United States and its territories, and nearly 40 international affiliates serving children on five continents. Make-A-Wish New Jersey was founded in 1983. Serving children in every municipality in the Garden State, Make-A-Wish New Jersey has granted over 11,000 wishes since its inception. For more information about Make-A-Wish New Jersey, call 800-252-WISH or visit nj.wish.org and discover how you can help transform lives, one wish at a time.