Make-A-Wish Kicks Off 10th Annual Believe Campaign With Macy's

As the season of giving begins, Macy’s and Make-A-Wish have teamed up for the 10th annual Believe campaign, which includes the iconic letter-writing program and festivities to spread the spirit of generosity and goodwill.

From the beginning of Nov. through Dec. 24, “Believers” of all ages can mail a letter to Santa at the big red letterbox at any local Macy’s store or online at macys.com/believe. For every letter received in store or online, Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million, to help grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses.

On Friday, November 3rd, a special kickoff event took place, celebrating 10 years of “Believe.” Make-A-Wish New Jersey and Macy’s of Freehold Raceway Mall celebrated the start of the campaign with four local wish kids, beginning at the Samuel & Josephine Plumeri Wishing Place, home of Make-A-Wish New Jersey in Monroe Township. They gathered for holiday treats from Carlo’s Bakery, caroling by The Village Carolers of Medford, and holiday letter-writing with over a dozen local police officers from Monroe Township, Manalapan and Edison, as well as members of the Blue Knights Group IX and XV. Local police joined the annual celebration in honor of the legacy of a young boy named Chris from Phoenix, Arizona, who in 1980, wished to be a police officer. Chris’ wish sparked the global phenomenon of Make-A-Wish that has now, nationwide, turned over 300,000 children’s wishes into realities.

Wish kids and parents were provided with an exciting limousine ride, escorted by a police motorcade, to Macy’s at the Freehold Raceway Mall, where they were greeted by cheering fans. Macy’s Store Manager Christine Lagravenis and Make-A-Wish New Jersey President & CEO Tom Weatherall greeted the crowd with remarks on the 10-year anniversary of the campaign, followed by a press conference with each of the featured wish kids, who shared their wish experiences and the impact it had on their lives. Upon the press conference completion, each wish kid delivered their holiday letters to the Believe Mailbox, officially declaring the beginning of the 2017 Believe Campaign.

“We couldn’t imagine the overwhelming response the Believe campaign would inspire when we introduced it 10 years ago,” said Holly Thomas, Group Vice President of Cause Marketing for Macy’s. “We have collected millions of letters throughout the years – each one representing an individual who was moved by the message of hope, love and generosity. The result has been the creation of a holiday tradition for families across the country, and ultimately, wish fulfillments that deliver joy and hope to the most amazing children. Macy’s is incredibly proud to play a part in that magic.”

Since 2008, Macy’s Believe campaign has brought together communities across the country, gathering support for the common cause and resulting in more than $15 million donated to Make-A-Wish nationally.

“Now in our fourth decade in New Jersey, we have long known that a wish experience can transform the life of a child with a critical illness,” shared Tom Weatherall, President & Chief Executive Officer of Make-A-Wish New Jersey. “Our friends at Macy’s have shown us that they, too, believe in the power of a wish. Their annual support through the Macy’s Believe Campaign, now in its 10th year and having donated over $15 million, helps us take significant steps closer to our vision of finding every eligible child and granting his or her one true wish.”

For more information about the Believe campaign and festivities for the holiday season, visit macys.com/believe.

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

About Macy’s
Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc. (NYSE:M) delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at approximately 670 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as to customers in the U.S. and more than 100 international destinations through its leading online store at macys.com. Via its stores, e-commerce site, mobile and social platforms, Macy's offers distinctive assortments including the most desired family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy's is known for such epic events as Macy's 4th of July Fireworks and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows and celebrity appearances. Macy's flagship stores – including Herald Square in New York City, Union Square in San Francisco, State Street in Chicago, and Dadeland in Miami and South Coast Plaza in southern California – are known internationally and are leading destinations for visitors. Building on a more than 150-year tradition, and with the collective support of customers and employees, Macy's helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities giving more than $54 million each year, plus 180,000 hours of volunteer service, to help make a difference in the lives of our customers. For Macy’s media materials, including images and contacts, please visit our online pressroom at macys.com/pressroom.

About Make-A-Wish New Jersey
Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a recent Wish Impact Survey, most health professionals surveyed say a wish come true can influence wish kids’ health outcomes. Wish kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illness, and their parents say these experiences strengthen the entire family. Based in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish is one of the world’s leading children’s charities, serving children in every community in the United States, its territories, and in 40 international affiliates 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 more than 9,500 wishes since its inception.

For more information about Make-A-Wish New Jersey or to discover how you can share the power of a wish®, visit nj.wish.org or call 800-252- WISH.