Ledgewood preschool raises $8,095 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience in Ledgewood, New Jersey, raised $8,095 during its April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign to support Make-A-Wish. The fundraiser tied early learning to community giving, while helping children understand kindness, empathy and service.

Why it matters: - The fundraising effort helped support Make-A-Wish wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The campaign also used early childhood education to teach children about kindness, empathy and community service. - The Ledgewood fundraiser is part of a larger national effort that has raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish since 2018.

What happened: - Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Ledgewood, New Jersey, raised $8,095 during the school’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign. - The month-long fundraiser took place in April. - The campaign benefited Make-A-Wish.

The details: - Children took part in classroom activities focused on compassion and helping others. - Preschoolers wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - The campaign also included fundraising events and hands-on activities. - Center leaders Karrah Winans, Heather Gallagher, Emily Romeo-Horsman, Arleen Molina, Manoj Gandhi, Sushil Gandhi, Sonia Lopez and Elexa Bauman guided the effort. - The school’s philanthropic mascots, Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua, were part of the campaign. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company aims to provide childcare and early education that goes beyond basic academics. - Wahl said the partnership with Make-A-Wish is intended to create a meaningful difference in communities and inspire the next generation of philanthropists. - The Learning Experience said the campaign is part of its proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum introduces children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate experiences. - The company said children learn that small acts of giving can help others and strengthen their communities.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser gives The Learning Experience a way to connect classroom learning with visible community impact. - The campaign also serves as a brand-wide demonstration of the company’s philanthropy curriculum and mission. - The national Make-A-Wish total suggests the Ledgewood event is one piece of a broader recurring fundraising platform.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue the annual campaign at other centers nationwide. - The company will keep pairing early education activities with philanthropy programming as part of its broader mission. - The Ledgewood center may use the campaign model again to teach students about service and generosity.

The bottom line: - The Ledgewood preschool turned a classroom lesson into $8,095 for Make-A-Wish, while reinforcing empathy and giving back.