The Learning Experience Murfreesboro raises $10,000 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Murfreesboro raised $10,000 during an April fundraising campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied philanthropy to early childhood learning, with hands-on activities designed to teach kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The campaign tied early childhood education to real-world philanthropy. - The $10,000 raised will support Make-A-Wish efforts for children living with critical illnesses. - The fundraiser gave preschoolers a hands-on lesson in kindness, generosity and service.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Murfreesboro took part in the center’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign for Make-A-Wish. - Families, staff members and children raised $10,000 during the month-long effort in April. - Center leaders Megan Shivers and Natalyn Pearson guided the campaign. - The preschool’s philanthropic mascots, Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua, helped bring the campaign to life.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish recipients. - Preschoolers joined fundraising events and classroom activities centered on compassion and helping others. - 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 experiences. - The Learning Experience said the effort reflects its mission to make a positive difference for children, families and communities. - Since 2018, children, families and staff across The Learning Experience centers have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish. - The Learning Experience has more than 480 centers open and 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 operates Bubbles and Friends, an educational media platform with original characters, music, video content and a companion app.

Between the lines: - The campaign shows how preschools are using philanthropy as part of the learning model, not just as a one-off fundraiser. - The national total suggests the Murfreesboro effort is part of a broader, long-running companywide charity program. - The initiative also helps introduce community service in a way that is concrete enough for very young children to understand.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue its annual Make-A-Wish fundraising campaign at centers nationwide. - The company will keep using its philanthropy curriculum to pair classroom learning with community giving. - Children at the Murfreesboro center will continue activities that reinforce empathy and service beyond the fundraiser.

The bottom line: - A local preschool fundraiser became both a community donation drive and an early lesson in empathy.