NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 5, 2011-- Building on the tremendous success of the last two seasons, Macy's declares the third annual National Believe Day on Friday, Dec. 9. As part of Macy's much-loved"Believe" campaign, National Believe Day is a pinnacle moment aimed to inspire generosity and giving throughout the season and encouraging Americans to embrace the spirit of goodwill and charity. In celebration of National Believe Day this year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Macy's will grant more than 55"Wishes Across America" for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Additionally, Macy's will host a Double Donation Day for letters mailed in Macy's Santa Mail Letterboxes on Dec. 9.

Macy's nostalgic Believe campaign is inspired by the New York Sun's famous"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" editorial from 1897. In a recent poll conducted by Harris of more than 2,000 adult respondents (18-55+), 56 percent of males and 75 percent of females said that like Virginia O'Hanlon, they too believe in miracles. In honor of the magical and miraculous spirit of the season, Macy's Believe campaign hopes to inspire Americans to give back to others on National Believe Day and beyond.

"Macy's is proud to bring back National Believe Day and to lead people across the country in embracing the compassionate and joyful message of the holiday season," said Martine Reardon, Macy's executive vice president of marketing."Our goal is to inspire others to act in generous and kindhearted ways, whether through writing a letter to Santa to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, or in their own way each day."

Key elements of National Believe Day include:

Wishes Across America

In celebration of National Believe Day, Macy's and the Make-A-Wish Foundation will help grant more than 55 wishes across the country to create a day of Wishes Across America for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Wishes Across America was created to inspire others to embrace the spirit of goodwill and make a difference in their own community, creating even more reasons to believe. Wishes will be granted in states across the country, including:

• North Carolina - Jack, 5, will go to Vermont and ride in a horse-drawn sleigh
• Wisconsin - Katie, 14, will go to New York City and see a Broadway play
• New York - Zachary, 6, will explore a new continent on an African safari
• Oklahoma - Miles, 13, will shop for the latest fashions to fill his closet
• San Diego - Kennia, 7, will travel across the ocean to Paris, France

Double Donation Day

Now in its fourth year, Macy's Believe campaign invites children to mail letters to Santa using Macy's Santa Mail Letterboxes. Macy's donates $1 for each letter received, up to $1 million, to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. For every stamped letter to Santa collected in store on Friday, December 9, Macy's will donate an additional dollar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, above and beyond the $1 million goal.

"Yes, Virginia" Animated Special

Back by popular demand, CBS will re-air the original animated special, "Yes, Virginia." Building on the story of 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon's letter to the editor of the New York Sun in 1897, the holiday special takes viewers on a charming adventure about the existence of Santa Claus and the curiosity amongst believers. The half-hour holiday program will air on CBS on National Believe Day, Friday, December 9, at 9/8c. Featuring an all-star cast of voices including Neil Patrick Harris, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alfred Molina and Beatrice Miller in the title role,"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 www.macys.com/believe.

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