Raleigh preschool raises $5,841 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience Preschool in Raleigh raised $5,841 in April through its annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied classroom activities to philanthropy, teaching children kindness and giving back while supporting children with critical illnesses.

Why it matters: - The Raleigh preschool campaign turned early education into real-world philanthropy. - The $5,841 raised will support Make-A-Wish efforts for children living with critical illnesses. - The program also teaches preschoolers empathy, generosity and community service through hands-on participation.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Raleigh participated in the annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” fundraising campaign in April. - Families and staff joined the effort and helped raise $5,841 for Make-A-Wish. - The month-long campaign included donations, fundraising events and classroom activities.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Preschoolers took part in activities centered on compassion and helping others. - Center leaders Ashley Ramirez, Julie Stone, Jane Patel and Ralph Patel guided the campaign. - Philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” helped bring the program to life. - The Learning Experience said the campaign reflects its mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and communities. - The Learning Experience said the fundraising effort extends learning beyond the classroom by showing children how acts of kindness and service can help others. - The “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign is part of the company’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum introduces children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate experiences. - The company said children learn that small acts of giving can strengthen their communities.

Between the lines: - The campaign gives The Learning Experience a way to connect its education model with a visible community outcome. - The effort also reinforces the brand’s positioning around social-emotional learning, not just academics. - Since 2018, children, families and staff across The Learning Experience centers have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

What’s next: - The annual campaign is expected to continue as part of The Learning Experience’s ongoing philanthropy curriculum. - The company will likely keep using the program to link classroom learning with community service. - The Learning Experience says it has more than 480 centers open and more than 240 additional locations in development across the U.S. and U.K. - The company provides care and education for children from six weeks to six years old. - The Learning Experience also points to its Bubbles and Friends educational media platform as an extension of learning beyond the classroom.

The bottom line: - A Raleigh preschool used a month-long charity drive to raise money for Make-A-Wish while teaching young children how to give back.