Jacksonville preschool raises $6,095 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience Preschool in Jacksonville-Southside raised $6,095 during its April Let’s Grant Wishes campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort blended fundraising with classroom activities to teach children kindness and giving back while supporting wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Why it matters: - The fundraiser helped support Make-A-Wish grants for children living with critical illnesses. - The campaign also used early childhood education to teach children about kindness, empathy and community service. - The effort showed how classroom-based philanthropy can connect learning with real-world impact.

What happened: - Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Jacksonville-Southside raised $6,095 during the school’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign. - The month-long campaign ran in April. - The fundraising supported Make-A-Wish and its work to grant life-changing wishes.

The details: - Children took part in hands-on activities tied to the campaign. - Center leaders Dr. Grace Huxtable-Mount, Jason Mount, Kelley Meeks, Trinace Grant and Stephanie Smith guided the effort. - The preschool’s philanthropic mascots, “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua,” were part of the campaign. - Preschoolers 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. - That curriculum introduces children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate experiences. - 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 campaign extends learning beyond academics by linking charitable giving to classroom activity. - The Learning Experience is using philanthropy as a practical teaching tool, not just a donation drive. - The school’s approach is designed to build empathy early, when habits and values are still forming.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is expected to continue its annual Make-A-Wish campaign through future school-year fundraising efforts. - The company’s broader philanthropy curriculum will keep introducing children to service and generosity through hands-on participation. - Families interested in the company’s broader mission can review The Learning Experience’s announcement.

The bottom line: - The Jacksonville-Southside preschool turned a local fundraiser into a lesson in giving, while adding thousands of dollars to a national wish-granting charity.