Shorewood preschool raises $5,927 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience Preschool in Shorewood, Illinois, raised $5,927 during its April "Let’s Grant Wishes" campaign to support Make-A-Wish. The effort tied fundraising to classroom activities meant to teach children kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned early childhood education into a real-world philanthropy lesson. - The $5,927 raised will help Make-A-Wish grant wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The fundraiser reinforced The Learning Experience’s broader mission to make a positive difference in children’s lives and local communities.

What happened: - Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Shorewood raised $5,927 during the school’s month-long April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign. - The fundraiser benefited Make-A-Wish. - The campaign took place at the Shorewood preschool in Illinois.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Preschoolers took part in fundraising events and classroom activities centered on compassion and helping others. - Center leaders Melissa Clinton and Kristi Gottschild guided the effort. - Philanthropic mascots Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua helped bring the campaign to life. - The fundraiser was part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum introduces children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate activities. - The campaign is designed to show children that small acts of giving can strengthen communities. - Since 2018, The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

Between the lines: - The Shorewood campaign is less about the dollar total alone and more about building habits of empathy early. - The effort also shows how preschool programs can connect classroom learning with service projects that families can join. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company aims to go beyond basic childcare and inspire the next generation of philanthropists.

What’s next: - The Learning Experience is expected to continue its annual Make-A-Wish fundraising campaign across its centers. - The company says the program remains part of its ongoing approach to early education and community service. - 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. - The Learning Experience also promotes its L.E.A.P. curriculum and Bubbles and Friends media platform as extensions of its learning model.

The bottom line: - A Shorewood preschool campaign raised a modest but meaningful sum while giving children a hands-on lesson in giving back.