Gabriella Miller, a 9-year-old Leesburg resident who was diagnosed with an inoperable, cancerous brain tumor last month, is leading an effort to get Macy’s to donate $1 million to Make-A-Wish Foundation.

When Gabriella learned her wish to visit Paris would be granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, she wanted to do something to give back to the organization. She was told that Macy’s will donate $1 million to Make-A-Wish if the store receives 1 million letters addressed to Santa Claus. Gabriella’s goal is to hand deliver 10,000 letters to Macy’s Dec. 23.

The Loudoun Country Day School fourth-grader is asking those in Loudoun to help her efforts by penning their own letters to Santa.

She will host two Dear Santa Parties where people can enjoy cookies and take a few moments to write their letters: from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 8, at Loudoun Country Day School, 20600 Red Cedar Drive in Leesburg, and from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 15, at Loudoun School for the Gifted, 44675 Cape Court in Ashburn.

Letters to Santa can also be dropped off at Loudoun Country Day School or mailed to: “Make-A-Wish With Gabriella,” 20899 McIntosh Place, Leesburg, VA 20175.

More information is also available on the Facebook page Smashing Walnuts.