The Learning Experience Cooper City raises $18,355 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Cooper City raised $18,355 in April through the center’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort ties fundraising to classroom lessons on kindness, empathy and community service while supporting wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned a preschool fundraiser into a real-world lesson in generosity, empathy and community service. - The $18,355 raised will help Make-A-Wish grant wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The effort shows how early childhood programs can pair learning with philanthropy.

What happened: - The Learning Experience in Cooper City ran its annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign during April. - Preschoolers, families and staff raised $18,355 for Make-A-Wish. - The campaign included donations, fundraising events and classroom activities. - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children and took part in age-appropriate compassion-focused lessons. - Center leaders Nicole Rosa, Stephanie Gonzalez and Annabel Valdes guided the activities. - The program also featured philanthropic mascots Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua.

The details: - The fundraiser is part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum introduces kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through hands-on experiences. - The program is designed to show children that small acts of giving can strengthen their communities. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company aims to provide childcare and early education that goes beyond basic academics and to inspire the next generation of philanthropists. - Since 2018, children, families and staff across The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

Between the lines: - The Cooper City campaign is a local example of a broader brand strategy that uses philanthropy as part of the educational model. - The fundraiser also reinforces The Learning Experience’s mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and communities. - The approach gives preschoolers a concrete way to connect classroom lessons with community impact.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is expected to continue its annual Make-A-Wish fundraising campaign across its centers. - The company will likely keep using its philanthropy curriculum to teach service and empathy through hands-on participation. - Continued fundraising will add to the national total raised for Make-A-Wish since 2018.

The bottom line: - A preschool fundraiser in Cooper City raised meaningful money for Make-A-Wish while teaching young children how giving back works in practice.