Make-A-Wish child Evan (center next to Paula the penguin and Animal Ambassador Ric Urban) won a game show at Macy’s Fountain Place and earned a trip to Hawaii.

CINCINNATI – Make-A-Wish Foundation treated Evan, a seven-year-old boy with a Hematologic disorder, to a day of games, prizes and a penguin on Friday at the Macy’s department store at Fountain Place downtown.

Newport Aquarium’s famous Paula the Penguin, accompanied by Animal Ambassador Ric Urban and Animal Experience Specialist Kayla Keyes, capped off the event by making a surprise appearance!

(L-R): Newport Aquarium Animal Experience Specialist Kayla Keyes, Paula the penguin, and Animal Ambassador Ric Urban get ready to surprise Make-A-Wish child Evan at Macy’s Fountain Place.

The event, which was part of Macy’s sixth annual National Believe Day, featured a Hawaiian-themed game show hosted by Bob Goen and Marianne Curan from Warm 98’s “Bob & Marianne in the Morning” show.

WLWT-TV News 5’s Sheree Paolello and Mike Dardis, as well as FOX 19‘s Jeff Creighton and Amy Wagner, were among those competing in the game show.

(L-R): Jeff Creighton and Amy Wagner of FOX19, and Newport Aquarium Animal Experience Specialist Kayla Keyes pose with Evan, Animal Ambassador Ric Urban and Paula the penguin.

Evan was triumphant, successfully answering all of the game show’s questions and won a grand prize of a trip to Hawaii, which was his dream for Make-A-Wish.

According to Macy’s National Believe Day website, “Evan can identify dozens of sea creatures and will choose to watch a nature documentary or fishing show over cartoons any day. Evan can’t wait to go to Hawaii to see creatures he’s only read about in books and seen on television. He will explore the ocean as he swims with dolphins and goes snorkeling.”

Macy’s at Fountain Place downtown is celebrating National Believe Day by doubling their donations to Make-A-Wish for every letter to Santa they receive.

Macy’s Believe campaign is inviting children to bring their stamped letters to Santa at Macy’s Fountain Place on National Believe Day (Friday, Dec. 12), and they will double the donations from $1 to $2 per letter. For every letter received in-store and online that day, they will donate $2 to Make-A-Wish, up to an extra $1 million, above the existing $1 million campaign goal.

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Newport Aquarium, the No. 1 aquarium in the country according to USA Today’s 10Best.com, has showcased thousands of animals from around the world in a million gallons of water since 1999. Named a top U.S. aquarium by US City Traveler in 2014 and by Travel Channel in 2013, Newport Aquarium is a Herschend Family Entertainment company and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Newport Aquarium is open to the public 365 days a year and is located across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati at Newport on the Levee.

Find us on: Facebook.com/NewportAquarium | Twitter: @NewportAquarium

One Aquarium Way | Newport, KY 41071 | 859-261-7444
www.newportaquarium.com