Mill Creek preschool raises $18,059 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience in Bothell raised $18,059 in April through its annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort blended fundraising with classroom activities to teach preschoolers empathy, kindness and community service.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned early childhood education into a real-world lesson in giving back. - The $18,059 raised will help Make-A-Wish grant wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The effort also shows how preschool programs can build empathy and community awareness at an early age.

What happened: - The Learning Experience in Bothell, serving the Mill Creek area, ran its annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” fundraising campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff raised $18,059 for Make-A-Wish during the month-long drive. - Center leaders Jagdish Patel, Divya Mahalingaiah, Lyn Stuart-German, Sylvia Jantz, Chestene Brown and Benazeer Mujawar guided the effort. - The campaign used mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” to engage children.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Preschoolers joined fundraising events tied to the campaign. - Classroom activities focused on compassion and helping others. - The campaign is part of The Learning Experience’s philanthropy curriculum, which teaches kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate activities. - The curriculum is designed 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 says the campaign reflects its mission to make a positive difference for children, families and communities.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser doubles as brand-building and values education for the preschool chain. - The program gives families and staff a shared activity that connects classroom learning with charitable action. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company is committed to early education that goes beyond academics and wants to inspire the next generation of philanthropists.

What’s next: - The Learning Experience is likely to keep the annual Make-A-Wish campaign as part of its broader philanthropy program. - The company continues to expand nationally, with more than 480 centers open and more than 240 additional locations in development across the U.S. and U.K. - The preschool says its mission remains focused on children, families and community impact.

The bottom line: - A preschool fundraiser in Bothell raised a meaningful sum for Make-A-Wish while teaching young children that generosity can have real impact.