The Learning Experience preschool in Wayne raises $24,405 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Wayne, New Jersey, raised $24,405 during the center’s April fundraising campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied philanthropy to early childhood education, giving children hands-on lessons in kindness, empathy and community service while supporting wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned a local preschool fundraiser into direct support for Make-A-Wish and children living with critical illnesses. - The effort also served as an early childhood lesson in empathy, generosity and community service. - The program shows how schools can pair fundraising with character education in a real-world setting.

What happened: - The Learning Experience in Wayne, New Jersey, raised $24,405 during its monthlong “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff contributed through donations, events and classroom activities. - The campaign supported Make-A-Wish and its work granting life-changing wishes.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Preschoolers joined fundraising events tied to the campaign. - Classroom activities focused on compassion and helping others. - Center leaders Ariel Martin, Mayte Blandino and Madeline Abarca guided the effort. - Philanthropic mascots Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua took part in the campaign. - The Learning Experience said the initiative reflects its mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and communities. - The “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign is part of the company’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum introduces kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate experiences. - The company said the campaign helps children understand that small acts of giving can strengthen communities.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser is doing double duty as charity work and brand-building for The Learning Experience’s education model. - The approach ties social-emotional learning to visible community impact, which can make the lesson easier for young children to grasp. - The company’s emphasis on philanthropy suggests community service is a core part of its preschool identity, not an add-on. - Since 2018, The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to keep the annual campaign as part of its nationwide philanthropy program. - The company will continue using the effort to teach children about giving back while supporting Make-A-Wish. - The Learning Experience said the broader mission remains focused on children, families and communities across its centers.

The bottom line: - A preschool fundraiser in Wayne delivered $24,405 for Make-A-Wish and turned the campaign into a hands-on lesson in kindness.