As part of its holiday Believe campaign, Macy’s has declared Friday, Dec. 12, as the sixth annual National Believe Day – devoted to embracing the season’s spirit of generosity and kindness toward others. To honor this special day, Macy’s and Make-A-Wish will grant more than 50 “Wishes Across America” to children with life-threatening medical conditions, and customers can share in the magic through a new, interactive Believe Together online hub at macysbelievetogether.com, where they will be able to participate in and experience these heartwarming wishes via social media as they happen in real time. Macy’s is also marking National Believe Day by offering a double donation, challenging customers to help the retailer raise additional funds to benefit Make-A-Wish.

“This National Believe Day, Macy’s and Make-A-Wish are teaming up again to grant more than 50 ‘Wishes Across America’ for children with life threatening medical conditions,” said Martine Reardon, Macy’s chief marketing officer. “Each wish experience is a powerful and inspiring moment, so this year, we’ve created a unique place online at macysbelievetogether.com where our customers can take part in these magical wish-granting celebrations.”

Key elements of National Believe Day include:

“Wishes Across America”

To celebrate the sixth annual National Believe Day, Macy’s and Make-A-Wish will grant more than 50 “Wishes Across America” to children with life-threatening medical conditions. This program was created to inspire others to embrace a spirit of goodwill by granting multiple wishes across the country all on one day, while making a direct impact on our local communities. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true can have positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illnesses and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family.

Believe Together Online Hub

A wish is a moving and magical experience for a Make-A-Wish child, their loved ones and the volunteers who rally together to grant the wish. This year, Americans nationwide are invited to join Macy’s and Make-A-Wish to see wish celebrations unfold through the new interactive Believe Together online hub. Beginning today, people can visit macysbelievetogether.com to learn more about this year’s “Wishes Across America,” including wishes taking place in their community. On National Believe Day, anyone can take part in the magic live as the site pulls all social media surrounding each wish, including videos, tweets, posts and photos as wishes are granted. Customers can celebrate National Believe Day alongside Macy’s by visiting wish celebrations in their area and capturing the experience on social media using #macysbelieve or sharing directly from macysbelievetogether.com.

Double Donation

National Believe Day is the pinnacle moment of Macy’s Believe campaign, which invites customers to drop their stamped letters, addressed to “Santa at The North Pole,” in the Santa Mail letterbox at their local Macy’s. New this year, customers can also visit macys.com/believe to create and send their letters to Santa. For each letter received through Dec. 24, Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million, to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

In celebration of National Believe Day, Macy’s is offering a double donation – for every letter received in-store and online on Friday, Dec. 12 only, Macy’s will donate an additional $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to an extra $1 million, above the existing $1 million campaign goal.

Macy’s Believe campaign was inspired by the true story of 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, who wrote a letter to the New York Sun newspaper in 1897 asking if there really was a Santa Claus. The paper’s response, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist …,” penned by its editor Francis P. Church, became the most reprinted editorial ever to run in any newspaper in the English language. This year marks the seventh anniversary of Believe, which has raised more than $8.7 million to benefit Make-A-Wish since its introduction in 2008.

“Yes, Virginia” was created and produced by Macy's and JWT in conjunction with The Ebeling Group and MEC Entertainment, a division of Mediaedge:cia.

For more information about Macy’s Believe campaign and National Believe Day, visit macys.com/believe. For “Believe” media materials, including images and video, please visit http://pimsmultimedia.com/macys-holiday-2014/believe.php.

About Macy’s

Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc. (NYSE:M), delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at approximately 800 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, Dadeland in Miami and South Coast Plaza in southern California -- are known internationally and 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 $70 million each year 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

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 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true can have positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illnesses, and their parents say these experiences help 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 and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 27,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the country every 37 minutes. It has granted more than 254,000 wishes since its inception in 1980; 14,247 in 2014 alone. Visit Make-A-Wish at wish.org to learn more.