Philadelphia preschool raises $5,124 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience in Philadelphia’s Washington Avenue location raised $5,124 in April through its annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort blended fundraising with classroom activities aimed at teaching preschoolers kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The campaign paired early childhood education with philanthropy, giving preschoolers a hands-on lesson in generosity and compassion. - The $5,124 raised supports Make-A-Wish, which helps grant wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The effort shows how a local preschool can connect classroom learning to real-world community impact.

What happened: - The Learning Experience in Philadelphia ran its annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” fundraising campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff members raised $5,124 for Make-A-Wish during the month-long effort. - Center leaders Romine Harrell, Shanise Wilkerson, Angie Turner and Carressa Elliott guided the campaign. - Mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” helped lead the activities.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Preschoolers took part in fundraising events. - Classroom activities focused on compassion and helping others. - The campaign is part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - That curriculum introduces children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate activities. - The Learning Experience said the campaign extends learning beyond the classroom and helps children understand the value of giving back. - Since 2018, children, families and staff members across The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish. - The Learning Experience serves children from six weeks to six years old and has more than 480 centers open, with over 240 additional locations in development across the U.S. and U.K.

Between the lines: - The fundraising drive doubles as brand-building for The Learning Experience’s philosophy of blending education with character development. - The campaign also reinforces a broader trend in early education: using service projects to teach social-emotional skills, not just academic basics. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company is committed to high-quality childcare and early education that goes beyond “the ABCs and 123s.”

What's next: - The Learning Experience is expected to continue its annual Make-A-Wish fundraising program across centers nationwide. - The company will likely keep using its philanthropy curriculum and mascot-led activities to engage children and families. - The national fundraising total for Make-A-Wish may continue to grow as more centers participate in future campaigns.

The bottom line: - A Philadelphia preschool turned a month-long fundraiser into both a charitable contribution and a lesson in empathy.