The Learning Experience Chapel Hill raises $5,222 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Chapel Hill raised $5,222 in April through the center’s annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied fundraising to classroom lessons on kindness, empathy and service, while adding to a nationwide total of more than $11.5 million raised since 2018.

Why it matters: - The Chapel Hill campaign linked early childhood education with real-world philanthropy. - The fundraiser helped support Make-A-Wish and the children it serves who are living with critical illnesses. - The program also gave preschoolers hands-on lessons in kindness, generosity and community service.

What happened: - The Learning Experience in Chapel Hill raised $5,222 during its monthlong Let’s Grant Wishes campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff participated in the fundraising effort. - The campaign benefited Make-A-Wish.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children during the campaign. - Preschoolers took part in fundraising events and classroom activities focused on compassion and helping others. - Center leaders Wendi Boggess, Christine Glover, Chandra Sekhar Puchakayala and Jeetu Kancharla guided the effort. - The campaign featured the philanthropic mascots Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua. - The Learning Experience said the initiative reflects its mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and communities. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company aims to provide childcare and early education that goes beyond basic academics. - Wahl said the company is proud to partner with Make-A-Wish and inspire the next generation of philanthropists. - 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 company said the hands-on approach helps children understand that small acts of giving can strengthen communities.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser shows how preschool programs can use service projects to teach social-emotional learning. - The campaign also functions as brand-building for The Learning Experience by tying its education model to community impact. - Since 2018, children, families and staff across The Learning Experience centers have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue the annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign at its centers. - The company also 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. - More information is available on The Learning Experience’s social channels, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.

The bottom line: - The Chapel Hill preschool turned a fundraising drive into a lesson in empathy, and raised thousands of dollars for Make-A-Wish while doing it.