Philadelphia preschool raises $12,379 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Philadelphia’s Logan Square raised $12,379 during an April campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied fundraising to classroom lessons on kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The campaign shows how early childhood education can connect classroom learning with real-world giving. - The $12,379 raised will support Make-A-Wish and help grant wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The effort also gave preschoolers a hands-on lesson in generosity, empathy and community service.

What happened: - The Learning Experience preschool in Philadelphia’s Logan Square completed its annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” fundraising campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff raised $12,379 for Make-A-Wish. - The campaign ran for one month. - Children took part in letters, fundraising events and classroom activities focused on compassion and helping others.

The details: - Center leaders James Winschel and Melissa Balderas guided the campaign. - The preschool used philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” to bring the effort to life. - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Families and staff contributed through donations and events. - The campaign is part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum teaches kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate activities. - The Learning Experience says the campaign extends learning beyond the classroom by showing children how acts of kindness and service can help others. - Since 2018, children, families and staff across The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser doubles as a brand mission statement for The Learning Experience, tying childcare, education and philanthropy together. - The initiative also gives the preschool a concrete way to teach social-emotional skills, not just academic basics. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company wants to go beyond “the ABCs and 123s” and inspire the next generation of philanthropists.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to keep the annual campaign as part of its wider philanthropy program. - The company continues to expand, with more than 480 centers open and over 240 locations in development across the U.S. and U.K. - The Learning Experience will keep using its L.E.A.P. curriculum and Bubbles and Friends media platform to reinforce early learning beyond the classroom.

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