The Learning Experience Edison raises $10,027 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Edison, New Jersey, raised $10,027 during an April fundraising campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort blended early childhood learning with philanthropy, teaching children kindness and empathy while supporting wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Why it matters: - The Edison preschool campaign turned classroom learning into direct support for children with critical illnesses. - The fundraiser also served as a real-world lesson in kindness, generosity and community service for young children. - The effort added to a national fundraising total that has topped $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish since 2018.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Edison took part in the school’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign benefiting Make-A-Wish. - The month-long drive ran in April and raised $10,027. - Preschoolers, families and staff members contributed through donations, events and classroom activities. - The campaign supported Make-A-Wish efforts to grant life-changing wishes for children living with critical illnesses.

The details: - Center leaders Shae Kalyani, Asha Popat, Manuel Jacome, Kaitlin Quinn and Sophia Jacome guided the activities. - The preschool’s philanthropic mascots, “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua,” also helped bring the campaign to life. - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Children also joined fundraising events and classroom lessons focused on compassion and helping others. - 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 company’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and the communities it serves.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser shows how early childhood education programs can use hands-on service projects to teach social values. - The approach also gives families a visible way to participate in school-led community giving. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company aims to go beyond “the ABCs and 123s” and inspire the next generation of philanthropists.

What's next: - The Learning Experience said its annual Make-A-Wish campaign will continue as part of its broader philanthropy program. - The company will keep using classroom-based service projects to reinforce lessons about empathy and giving back. - The Learning Experience now operates more than 480 centers and has more than 240 additional locations in development across the U.S. and U.K. - The company serves children from six weeks to six years old.

The bottom line: - A local preschool fundraiser became both a charitable donation drive and a curriculum lesson in helping others.