Zack’s Make-A-Wish

When Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia first met local Pittsburgh boy, Zack, he was a bright-eyed, five-year-old battling Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form on cancer that causes tumors in muscles.

>As a young boy and dinosaur enthusiast, Zack wished for none other than his very own T-Rex Dinosaur. On his wish day, Zack served as a paleontologist with visits to the Pittsburgh Zoo and Carnegie Museum, followed by a trail of tracks leading to a life-sized dinosaur in his own backyard. Since the reveal of his T-Rex named Meaty, Zack is now cancer free and helping other children experience the magic that he once felt. Now, 10 years since his wish was granted, 16-year-old Zack regularly gives back to Make-A-Wish by speaking, volunteering and fundraising through his own community event, Make-A-Move for Make-A-Wish, a bike, walk and run that’s helped raise more than $160,000 in just four years!

In honor of Zack’s inspirational story and to help kick-off Macy’s Believe this holiday season, Pittsburgh families are encouraged to visit their local Macy’s, bringing stamped letters to Santa. Macy’s Believe celebrates the season’s spirit of generosity and goodwill, all while benefiting Make-A-Wish. For each letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million, to help grant the wishes of local children with life-threatening medical conditions. To learn more, visit macys.com/believe.