Contributions From Macy’s

On behalf of Macy’s West, I re- spond to your Jan. 29 article, which suggested that the purpose of $820,000 in year-end charitable contributions given by Macy’s over a three-year period to nine organizations was motivated by something other than philanthropy.

Macy’s has a long history of community investment and support. Since we entered the Los Angeles community in 1995, Macy’s West has contributed more than $4 million to community organizations and charities benefiting people in Greater Los Angeles. The Dec. 1 grants disbursed in the Central Los Angeles area were just part of an overall $2.7 million year-end contributions distribution throughout the six states in which we operate.

This was not the first time Macy’s has given support to most of these organizations. Macy’s has made prior annual contributions to seven of the nine community groups that shared in our December allocations. Beyond that, the fact that we continue to look for opportunities to develop relationships with new community groups whose objectives are similar to our own ought to be seen as a plus, not a negative.

It is unfortunate that there are a few individuals who seek to attribute self-serving motives to our actions; however, Macy’s long-standing record of philanthropic support and community involvement speaks for itself.

LOUIS MEUNIER

EVP, External Affairs

Macy’s West, San Francisco