HOWELL – One local boy is giving back to the organization that changed his life last year.
Howell’s own Christian Rivero, a Make-A-Wish recipient battling a life-threatening, critical illness, was granted the opportunity to visit Beaches, Turks & Caicos in 2018.
One year later, Rivero is giving back to the Make-a-Wish foundation by collecting letters as part of the Macy’s 12th Annual Believe Campaign. For every letter collected, Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million, to help grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses.
The campaign runs from November through December 24. On Dec. 6, also known as National Believe Day, Rivero made a delivery of nearly 1,000 letters that he collected. Not only this, but letters delivered on National Believe Day count for a $2 contribution from Macy’s per letter, up to an additional $1 million, bringing the total campaign to a possible $2 million.
On Dec. 6, Rivero, accompanied by family, made a visit to the Macy’s in the Freehold Raceway Mall with 972 letters. He collected the letters through the Howell High School Make-A-Wish Club, the Club Advisor and English teacher Mrs. Collins, as well as staff and students throughout all of Howell High School.
“I chose to collect letters from my school because I felt like it was my responsibility to give back to the foundation that blessed me and my family,” said Rivero. “I feel very honored being able to give back through Macy’s…I would also like to thank Make-A-Wish for all they have done for me and my family as well as Macy’s for giving me the opportunity to support the foundation and people who truly transformed my life and gave me hope when I had none.”
Make-A-Wish helps provide children with critical illnesses the chance to experience life beyond their illness. Since 2003, Macy’s has donated more than $122 million to Make-A-Wish, including more than $19 million through the annual Believe campaign.
For more information about Make-A-Wish New Jersey, visit nj.wish.org. The campaign continues; if you would like to deliver a letter of your own, “believers” of all ages can mail letters to Santa at the big red letterbox at any local Macy’s store or online at macys.com/believe.
