North Brunswick preschool raises $5,000 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience Preschool in North Brunswick Township, New Jersey, raised $5,000 during its April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign to support Make-A-Wish. The effort mixed fundraising with classroom activities to teach preschoolers kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The campaign helped fund wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The fundraising effort also turned philanthropy into a hands-on lesson in kindness, empathy and giving back for preschoolers. - The North Brunswick effort reflects a broader program that has raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish since 2018.

What happened: - Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in North Brunswick Township raised $5,000 during the center’s month-long April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign. - The campaign supported Make-A-Wish. - Center leaders Charlotte Brewer and Karen Ramirez guided the effort. - The preschool used philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” during the campaign.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Families and staff joined fundraising events and classroom activities. - The program focused on compassion and helping others through age-appropriate lessons. - The campaign is part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - That curriculum introduces children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service. - The Learning Experience said the initiative goes beyond childcare and early education. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company is committed to high-quality childcare and early education that goes beyond academics. - Wahl said the company is proud to partner with Make-A-Wish and inspire future philanthropists.

Between the lines: - The North Brunswick campaign shows how early childhood programs can use real-world causes to teach social skills and civic values. - The company is using philanthropy as part of its brand identity, not just as a one-off charity drive. - The national fundraising total suggests the Make-A-Wish partnership has become a long-running part of The Learning Experience’s wider curriculum.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue its annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign at other centers nationwide. - The company’s broader philanthropy curriculum will continue to weave community service into classroom learning. - The Learning Experience says its centers will keep using hands-on experiences to reinforce giving back and community engagement.

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