Warren preschool raises $5,128 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Warren, New Jersey, raised $5,128 in April for Make-A-Wish through the center’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign. The effort paired fundraising with classroom activities meant to teach young children kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The campaign tied early childhood education to real-world philanthropy. - The $5,128 raised will support Make-A-Wish in granting wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The effort also taught preschoolers how kindness, generosity and service can help other people.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Warren, New Jersey, took part in the center’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” fundraising campaign. - During the month-long April campaign, preschoolers, families and staff raised $5,128 for Make-A-Wish. - The fundraising included donations, events and classroom activities.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Preschoolers joined fundraising events and classroom lessons centered on compassion and helping others. - Center leaders Brianna Medina, Katina Medina, Stephanie Kearney, Anthony Mina and Emily Graisser guided the campaign. - The center’s philanthropic mascots, Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua, were part of the activities. - The campaign 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 its goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and the communities it serves. - Since 2018, The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

Between the lines: - The campaign shows how a preschool can use fundraising to reinforce social-emotional learning. - The Make-A-Wish partnership gives the lesson a visible outcome, which can make empathy easier for young children to understand. - The Learning Experience is positioning philanthropy as part of its broader education model, not as an extra activity.

What's next: - The annual campaign is expected to continue as part of the company’s broader philanthropy curriculum. - The Learning Experience will keep using hands-on activities to connect classroom learning with community service. - The company’s nationwide Make-A-Wish fundraising total will likely keep growing as more centers participate.

The bottom line: - In Warren, a preschool fundraiser became both a community donation drive and a lesson in compassion for young children.