Simi Valley preschool raises $6,655 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience Preschool in Simi Valley raised $6,655 during its April Let’s Grant Wishes campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied fundraising to classroom lessons on kindness and empathy, while adding to a nationwide total of more than $11.5 million raised since 2018.

Why it matters: - The fundraiser supports Make-A-Wish and helps grant wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The campaign also turns early childhood education into a hands-on lesson in kindness, empathy and community service. - The effort shows how a local preschool can connect classroom learning with real-world giving.

What happened: - Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Simi Valley raised $6,655 during the preschool’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - The month-long campaign benefited Make-A-Wish. - Children took part in fundraising events, classroom activities and letter-writing to wish children. - Center leaders Marlene Ybarra and Zenaida Hernandez-Garcia guided the campaign. - Philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” helped bring the campaign to life.

The details: - The campaign focused on compassion, helping others and age-appropriate philanthropy activities. - The Learning Experience said the initiative reflects its mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children, their families and the communities it serves. - The preschool’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum introduces children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service. - The curriculum uses hands-on participation to show children that small acts of giving can strengthen communities. - Since 2018, children, families and staff across The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish. - The Learning Experience said the campaign extends learning beyond the classroom and helps children understand the value of giving back. - The company has more than 480 centers open and over 240 additional locations in development across the U.S. and U.K. - The Learning Experience serves children from six weeks to six years old. - The company’s L.E.A.P.® Curriculum supports cognitive, social and emotional development. - The Learning Experience also operates Bubbles and Friends®, an educational media platform with original characters, music, video content and a companion app. - The company says it has earned recognition as the No. 1 Childcare Franchise by Entrepreneur magazine and the No. 1 Education Franchise by Franchise Business Review. - Media Relations contact information listed a phone number, +1 888-865-7775, and social media links for LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, including The Learning Experience Simi Valley.

Between the lines: - The campaign is as much about character-building as fundraising. - The preschool uses philanthropy to reinforce its brand message that education should include social and emotional learning. - The nationwide total suggests the Make-A-Wish partnership is a long-running part of the company’s identity, not a one-off community event.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue its annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign as part of its broader philanthropy curriculum. - The company’s growing center footprint suggests more locations could take part in future Make-A-Wish fundraising efforts. - The Simi Valley preschool will likely keep using classroom activities, family participation and staff involvement to drive future community giving.