Bel Air preschool raises $8,622 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience Preschool in Bel Air, Maryland, raised $8,622 during its April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign for Make-A-Wish. The fundraiser tied hands-on classroom activities to lessons in empathy and giving back while supporting children with critical illnesses.

Why it matters: - The fundraiser turned early childhood education into direct community support for children with critical illnesses. - The campaign also taught preschoolers kindness, empathy, generosity and service through real-world participation. - The effort adds to a national giving total that has topped $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish since 2018 across The Learning Experience centers.

What happened: - Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Bel Air raised $8,622 during the preschool’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign. - The month-long drive ran in April and benefited Make-A-Wish. - The campaign used donations, events and classroom activities to support wish-granting for children living with critical illnesses.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Preschoolers took part in fundraising events and classroom lessons focused on compassion and helping others. - Center leaders Kimberly Thompson, Sara List, Jill Warner, Nicholas Thompson and Rachel Duncan guided the effort. - Philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” helped bring the campaign to life. - The Learning Experience said the fundraiser aligns with its mission to make a positive difference for children, families and communities. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company aims to provide high-quality childcare and early education that goes beyond basic academics.

Between the lines: - The campaign shows how a preschool can use philanthropy as part of its curriculum, not as a one-time add-on. - The approach gives young children a concrete way to understand generosity, inclusion and community service. - The $8,622 local total is small compared with the broader national fundraising effort, but it reinforces a recurring, systemwide giving model.

What's next: - The Learning Experience will continue to use its proprietary philanthropy curriculum in future campaigns. - The company’s broader network of more than 480 open centers and more than 240 locations in development gives the Make-A-Wish partnership room to expand. - The annual campaign is likely to remain a recurring part of the company’s community outreach.

The bottom line: - The Bel Air preschool used a charity drive to raise money, teach empathy and connect classroom learning to real-world impact.