Franklin Lakes preschool raises $10,251 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience in Franklin Lakes raised $10,251 in April through its annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign for Make-A-Wish. The fundraiser mixed donations, classroom activities and family participation to teach children empathy while helping grant wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned a preschool fundraiser into a hands-on lesson in kindness, generosity and community service. - The $10,251 total will help Make-A-Wish grant life-changing wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The effort shows how early childhood programs can link classroom learning to real-world philanthropy.

What happened: - Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Franklin Lakes raised $10,251 during the school’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign. - The month-long fundraiser ran in April and supported Make-A-Wish. - Children took part in letters, fundraising events and classroom activities tied to compassion and helping others.

The details: - Center leaders Dilek Yesilyurt, Bevirly Regala, Allison Humes and Jolene Romero guided the campaign. - “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” served as philanthropic mascots for the activities. - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children during the campaign. - The preschool also used classroom lessons to reinforce empathy and service. - The campaign is part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum introduces kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate experiences. - Since 2018, The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish. - The Learning Experience operates more than 480 centers and has more than 240 additional locations in development across the U.S. and U.K. - The company serves children from six weeks to six years old.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser is doing more than collecting donations; it is positioning philanthropy as an early learning tool. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the partnership with Make-A-Wish helps create a meaningful difference in communities while inspiring the next generation of philanthropists. - The program also reinforces the brand’s broader mission to connect education, family engagement and community impact.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue using its annual campaign and philanthropy curriculum to support Make-A-Wish and similar service-learning efforts. - National participation across the company’s centers suggests the fundraising model could keep expanding beyond Franklin Lakes. - The company will keep pairing early education with its broader community-focused mission.