Macy’s and its Customers Generate $5.8 Million to Grant Wishes

Generosity was in the air at Macy’s this holiday season as the 2007 Thanks For Sharing holiday gifts rewards program raised a record $5.8 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation®. Macy’s opened this national program in late September, enabling customers to enroll and receive rewards for shopping at Macy’s while supporting charities in their communities at the same time.

“The Thanks For Sharing program has been a tremendous success, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation is so grateful for Macy’s partnership,” said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. “This year’s funds will help us grant more than 800 wishes to courageous kids around the country. It’s a truly wonderful gift.”

Thanks for Sharing debuted as a Macy’s initiative in 2003 – a distinctive effort benefiting customers during the holiday season and charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, throughout the year. For a $25 enrollment fee, Macy’s cardholders earn a 10- percent reward on most Macy's and macys.com purchases made with their Macy’s credit card during the holiday season. Since 2003, Macy’s has contributed $14.9 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation through Thanks for Sharing.

This year, Thanksgiving held immense joy for 6-year-old Alyson and her family. This sweet little girl’s wish – to have a holiday shopping spree at Macy’s in New York City – came true. And Macy’s even treated Alyson to an extra surprise – VIP seats for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Alyson, who along with her twin sister, Andrea, has cystic fibrosis, wished to travel with her family to New York for Thanksgiving week.

For Alyson, a holiday shopping spree at Macy’s was a dream come true. She wanted to be sure wish-granting volunteers knew Macy’s was her favorite store, so she wrote it down for them and underlined it several times. Employees at Macy’s flagship Herald Square store got Alyson’s message; they were ready to welcome her with a personal shopper when she arrived for her shopping spree.

But Alyson loves more about Macy’s than just the shopping: Watching the Macy’s Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on television is a Thanksgiving-morning tradition in her family – a tradition that she was able to live out in person this year when she and her family took their seats along the famous parade route.

Alyson and her family enjoyed VIP seats for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Macy’s also surprised Alyson with a rare behind-the-scenes look at the parade staging area. Alyson saw the final touches being added to the famous floats and watched her favorite balloon characters come to life as crews filled them with helium.

Alyson’s wish week was filled with the excitement of holiday shopping at Macy’s, the magic of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the thrill of seeing a spectacular city at its finest. And most of all, it gave Alyson and her family memories befitting the Thanksgiving holiday — memories of blessings and joy.