Philadelphia preschool raises $5,468 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Philadelphia-Northern Liberties raised $5,468 in April through the center’s annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign for Make-A-Wish. The fundraiser tied early childhood education to philanthropy by teaching children kindness, empathy and community service while supporting wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned a classroom lesson into real-world giving, helping children see how kindness and service can support families facing serious illness. - The fundraiser also advanced Make-A-Wish’s mission by adding $5,468 to help grant wishes for children with critical illnesses. - The Learning Experience says the effort reflects its broader goal of making a positive difference in the lives of children, families and local communities.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Philadelphia-Northern Liberties raised $5,468 during the center’s annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign. - The month-long fundraiser ran in April and supported Make-A-Wish. - Preschoolers, families and staff contributed through donations, events and classroom activities. - Center leaders Angie Salas, Julie Alfonse, Lehilany Labarca, Chantel Brown and Andre Houslin guided the campaign. - The center’s philanthropic mascots, Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua, helped bring the program to life.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Children took part in fundraising events tied to the campaign. - Classroom activities focused on compassion and helping others. - The Let’s Grant Wishes effort 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 program teaches children that even small acts of giving can strengthen their 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 company has more than 480 centers open and more than 240 additional locations in development across the U.S. and U.K. - The Learning Experience serves children from six weeks to six years old. - The company’s L.E.A.P. Curriculum is designed to support cognitive, social and emotional development. - The company also operates Bubbles and Friends, an educational media platform with original characters, music, video content and a companion app. - The company says it has been recognized as the No. 1 Childcare Franchise by Entrepreneur magazine and the No. 1 Education Franchise by Franchise Business Review. - More information is available in the company’s social media channels and online presence, including Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser shows how early education programs can use philanthropy to reinforce social-emotional learning. - The campaign also gives The Learning Experience a visible way to connect its curriculum with community impact. - The nationwide fundraising total suggests the Make-A-Wish partnership has become a recurring part of the company’s identity.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue using its philanthropy curriculum and annual Make-A-Wish campaign in future school years. - The company’s growing center network could expand the reach of similar community service efforts.

The bottom line: - A local preschool fundraiser raised a modest amount on its own, but it also doubled as a hands-on lesson in empathy, generosity and civic engagement.