Macy's, Inc. supports thousands of nonprofit organizations annually because we believe giving back is the right thing to do. It's a long-standing tradition and one of which we are very proud.
In 2010, Macy's, Inc., the Macy's Foundation, employees and customers contributed approximately $60 million to worthwhile causes across our country. In addition, our associates gave more than 122,000 hours of their personal time for community service.
Corporate and Foundation Gifts
Collectively, Macy's, Bloomingdale's and the Macy's Foundation granted more than $27 million to 4,500 nonprofit organizations in 2010. The majority of our gifts were directed to our core focus areas of arts and culture, education, the environment, HIV/AIDS research and awareness, and women's issues.
Our support helped sponsor art exhibits, free admission to museums, art education workshops for youngsters, and special musical performances. In education, we funded scholarships, mentoring and tutoring programs, early childhood education programs, summer reading programs, and adopt-a-school programs. Support for our HIV/AIDS focus area included funding for meals and nutrition programs, prevention and awareness efforts, and research and counseling programs. Our support for environmental issues covered both conservation and preservation efforts such as animal preservation programs at zoos, a children's garden education program to help build a conservation mindset, and sponsorship of Earth Day activities. We contributed to women's health issues such as early detection and screening programs for heart disease, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer; provided assistance to emergency shelters; and funded programs to combat domestic and dating violence. We supported self-esteem programs for young girls and teens, as well as programs to build leadership skills and increase girls' interest in math and science.
A new program in 2010 - the My Macy's District Grants program - provided funds to each of the
69 Macy's operating districts which they could grant to local organizations. Mirroring our My
Macy's business strategy, which stresses local decisions that drive individual stores' merchandise offerings, the My Macy's District Grants program helps our local teams support
the organizations and events that are important in their communities. In its
initial year, more then 1,200 individual grants were awarded.
As part of our third annual Believe campaign during
the holidays, and based on the famous "Yes, Virginia,
there is a Santa Claus" editorial in the New York Sun,
our customers dropped letters to Santa into special letter boxes in our stores. Macy's pledged to donate $1 to
Make-A-Wish for every letter received up to a maximum
of $1 million, and in 2010 we added a $200,000 contribution for letters posted on Dec. 10 - National Believe Day.
To continue our emphasis on the environment and sustainability and to mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Macy's contributed $500,000 to the National Park Foundation in 2010, matching customer contributions
as part of our Great Give Back campaign.