Macy's raises $16.25 million through holiday campaigns

NEW YORK -- Macy’s announced that it has donated $16.25 million to various charitable organizations as a result of its 2010 Thanks For Sharing and Believe holiday campaigns.

“Our Thanks For Sharing and Believe campaigns are successful year after year,” said Martine Reardon, Macy’s EVP marketing. “We at Macy’s continue to be inspired by the millions of customers who support these programs each year with their generosity and goodwill. We’re proud to announce that $16.25 million was donated as a result of this year’s efforts.”

Now in its eighth year, Macy’s Thanks For Sharing program has raised $15 million to benefit the recipient charities. Since the launch of the campaign in 2003, Macy’s customers nationwide have rallied for the cause, helping Macy’s donate over $80 million in the seven years that Macy’s has offered the program.

The program’s beneficiaries in 2010 include three national cause organizations -- the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement, which promotes heart health for women, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, and The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which provides critical funding for innovative research. Regional charities included March of Dimes, Big Brothers Big Sisters and local Boys and Girls Clubs.

Macy’s customers' participation in all elements of Macy’s third annual Believe campaign resulted in an additional donation of more than $1.45 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Based on the New York Sun's famous "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" editorial, Macy’s Believe campaign invites believers of all ages to drop off letters to Santa at The North Pole at any Macy’s store by depositing them in special, designated Santa Mail letterboxes. For each letter received, Macy’s pledged to donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to $1 million, to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.