The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® is a national beneficiary for Macy’s Thanks for Sharing program, which raised a record $15 million for charities during the 2009 holiday season. The Foundation was also the beneficiary for Macy’s Believe, an inspirational campaign that generated a $1 million donation from Macy’s through children’s letters to Santa.

Macy’s customers have the opportunity to participate in these programs again in 2010. Thanks for Sharing kicks off September 15 and customers can enroll in all Macy’s stores beginning on that date.

Since 2003, Macy’s has donated more than $33 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help make wishes come true.

Taylor’s wish

In 1897, a girl wrote to a newspaper asking for reassurance that Santa Claus was real. The editor who answered, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,” made brought hope to many children – including a present-day girl who became part of that story in a made-for-television production.

Taylor, 11, is an actress. She already had a website and agent when she was diagnosed with a rare childhood blood cancer. Her mother, Debbie, said that Taylor’s poise through all the treatments and surgeries inspired her.

When she found out that the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® wanted to grant her wish, Taylor knew she’d like to be part of something in film or television. Thanks to her wish-granting volunteers and Foundation sponsor Macy’s, she would become part of the timeless story in the Macy’s holiday special, “Yes, Virginia,” with a character created just for her.

Kallan Kagan, the producer of “Yes, Virginia,” thought the biggest challenge would be just finishing the half-hour show on schedule. Then she had to create a role in the show for a wish kid, adding to the challenge.

“We put this giant wrench into production,” she said “But everyone was wonderful about it.”

The crew was excited when they received Taylor’s photos – her features were a perfect stylistic fit for the show.

Taylor flew to New York from her home in Southern California to do her part. She had previously acted in feature films and commercials. But it was a new experience to be in the booth of a recording studio to record her animated character’s lines.

“This turned out to be even bigger than I think anyone imagined,” Debbie said about her daughter’s wish. “She was in the booth for about an hour and a half.”

Kallan had more in mind for Taylor than just reading her lines that day. “I remember getting up at five that morning to pick up a big print of her character Taylor, to give her in a frame,” she said.

The first trip was only the beginning. Macy’s invited Taylor back to New York City for the premiere of “Yes, Virginia.” Even though all of the actors and actresses involved with the show recorded their characters’ voices separately, Taylor had struck up an online friendship with Beatrice Miller, the girl who voiced Virginia, the main character. The two were almost the same age, and loved horses. They met in person when Taylor appeared on “The Early Show” in New York City.

“The whole time they were there, Taylor and Beatrice were inseparable,” said Debbie. “They became really good friends.”

Taylor and Beatrice also met some of the original Virginia’s descendents. The show’s producers had a party at Virginia’s former home, which is now a school. The guest list included a number of Virginia’s great-granddaughters, who were about the same age as Beatrice and Taylor. The girls all formed an instant bond, thanks to the “Yes, Virginia” story.

It is always a moving experience for Kallan when she sees joy on children’s faces, often the result of the animated shows she produces.

”But being part of granting a wish is the most amazing experience of my life,” Kallan said. “I went home and just sobbed afterward. I felt like I had been part of something incredible.”