Learning Experience preschool in Longwood raises $6,137 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience preschool in Longwood, Florida, raised $6,137 during its April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied fundraising to classroom lessons on kindness and empathy while supporting wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned early childhood education into a real-world lesson in generosity, helping children connect classroom values with community impact. - Funds raised for Make-A-Wish support wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The effort shows how a local preschool can mobilize families and staff around philanthropy while reinforcing social-emotional learning.

What happened: - The Learning Experience in Longwood held its annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” fundraising campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff raised $6,137 for Make-A-Wish. - The campaign took place at the Longwood preschool and ran for one month.

The details: - Children took part in hands-on activities tied to the campaign. - Center leaders Neelam Sachdeva, Savannah Lafler, Allyson Main and Kiona Baker guided the effort. - Philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” helped bring the campaign to life. - Preschoolers wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Children also joined fundraising events and classroom activities focused on compassion and helping others. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company aims to provide high-quality childcare and early education beyond academics and is proud to partner with Make-A-Wish. - The campaign is part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - That curriculum introduces kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate experiences. - The Learning Experience says children learn that small acts of giving can help others and strengthen communities. - Since 2018, The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

Between the lines: - The program is built to teach empathy through participation, not just instruction. - The company is using philanthropy as a brand-wide teaching tool, which also reinforces its broader mission and community ties. - The national fundraising total suggests the Longwood campaign is part of a larger, recurring effort rather than a one-off local event.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is expected to continue its annual Make-A-Wish fundraising campaign as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - The company will likely keep pairing classroom activities with community giving across its centers. - More than 480 centers are open and over 240 additional locations are in development across the U.S. and U.K., expanding the reach of the program.

The bottom line: - The Longwood preschool raised money for Make-A-Wish and used the campaign to teach children that giving back can start early.