The Learning Experience Nocatee raises $10,470 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Ponte Vedra Beach raised $10,470 in April through the annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign. The effort supported Make-A-Wish and turned classroom philanthropy into hands-on lessons in kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The campaign gave preschool children a real-world lesson in giving back while helping Make-A-Wish support children living with critical illnesses. - The fundraiser tied early childhood education to community impact, showing how service projects can build empathy at a young age.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, raised $10,470 during the month-long Let’s Grant Wishes campaign in April. - Families, staff members and children took part in donations, fundraising events and classroom activities. - The effort benefited Make-A-Wish and supported wishes for children with critical illnesses.

The details: - Center leaders Meredith Magee, Sarah Miller and Loran Cameron guided the campaign. - Philanthropic mascots Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua helped bring the program to life. - Preschoolers wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Children also took part in classroom activities centered on compassion and helping others. - The fundraiser is part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum introduces kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate activities. - The Learning Experience says the campaign helps children learn that small acts of giving can strengthen communities. - 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 campaign is designed to extend learning beyond academics and connect classroom lessons to visible community outcomes. - The program also gives The Learning Experience a recurring philanthropic platform that reinforces its brand mission while engaging families. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the partnership is meant to create a meaningful difference in communities while inspiring the next generation of philanthropists.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is expected to continue using its annual Make-A-Wish fundraising campaign as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - 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 bottom line: - A local preschool fundraiser became both a charitable boost for Make-A-Wish and a hands-on lesson in empathy for young children.