Brooklyn preschool raises $5,150 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience Preschool in Brooklyn’s Kings Highway center raised $5,150 in April through its annual 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 a preschool fundraiser into a lesson in generosity, helping children connect classroom learning with real community impact. - The $5,150 raised will support Make-A-Wish efforts for children living with critical illnesses. - The program reinforces The Learning Experience’s broader early-childhood mission to teach kindness, inclusion and service alongside academics.

What happened: - Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Brooklyn’s Kings Highway center raised $5,150 during the month-long Let’s Grant Wishes campaign in April. - The fundraising effort benefited Make-A-Wish. - Children took part in letters to wish children, fundraising events and classroom activities focused on compassion and helping others.

The details: - Center leaders Jennifer Jean-Baptiste, Norice Ormsby, Zachara Ormsby, Moriah Ormsby, Jonette Julien and Jade Johnston guided the campaign. - Philanthropic mascots Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua were part of the activities. - The preschool said the campaign is part of its proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - That curriculum introduces children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate experiences. - The Learning Experience said the campaign shows 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 effort shows how early-childhood programs are using hands-on philanthropy to teach social-emotional skills, not just basic academics. - The fundraising also serves as brand-building for The Learning Experience by linking its education model to community service. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company is committed to high-quality childcare that goes beyond “the ABCs and 123s” and aims to inspire the next generation of philanthropists.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is expected to keep running its annual Make-A-Wish campaign as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - The Brooklyn center will likely continue using classroom activities and family participation to support future fundraising efforts. - The company continues to expand nationwide, with more than 480 centers open and over 240 additional locations in development across the U.S. and U.K.

The bottom line: - A Brooklyn preschool fundraiser became both a charitable drive and an early lesson in empathy, raising money for Make-A-Wish while teaching children how to give back.