The Learning Experience preschool in Menomonee Falls raises $10,091 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Menomonee Falls raised $10,091 during an April fundraising campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied early childhood learning to philanthropy, with children taking part in activities designed to build empathy and community service skills.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned a local preschool fundraiser into direct support for children living with critical illnesses. - The effort also used real-world giving to teach preschoolers kindness, empathy and community service.

What happened: - The Learning Experience in Menomonee Falls raised $10,091 during its monthlong “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff supported the effort through donations, events and classroom activities. - The fundraiser benefited Make-A-Wish.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children and joined fundraising activities. - Center leaders Aly Kelly, Chirag Parikh, Rimpal Shah and Annabelle Michalik guided the campaign. - The center’s philanthropic mascots, Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua, were part of the program. - The campaign is part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum introduces children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate activities. - Since 2018, children, families and staff across The Learning Experience centers have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser shows how early education programs can build social values through hands-on participation, not just classroom lessons. - The campaign also reinforces The Learning Experience’s broader brand strategy of linking education with community impact. - The effort adds to a national fundraising track record that has grown over several years.

What's next: - The Learning Experience will likely continue the annual campaign as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - The company is also expanding its footprint, with more than 480 centers open and over 240 additional locations in development across the U.S. and U.K. - The Learning Experience says its mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and the communities it serves.

The bottom line: - A local preschool fundraiser delivered thousands of dollars for Make-A-Wish while teaching young children that giving back starts early.