Exton preschool raises $5,309 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience in Exton raised $5,309 during its April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort connected classroom activities with philanthropy, teaching preschoolers kindness and giving back while helping grant wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned early childhood education into a real-world lesson in empathy, generosity and community service. - The $5,309 raised in Exton will support Make-A-Wish efforts for children living with critical illnesses. - The effort also shows how local schools can pair fundraising with social-emotional learning.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Exton took part in the annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Preschool families, staff members and children raised $5,309 for Make-A-Wish during the month-long effort. - The campaign included donations, fundraising events and classroom activities.

The details: - Center leaders Jill Neuhaus, Jill Mogel and Beth McGill guided the campaign. - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Preschoolers also participated in activities with the philanthropy mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua.” - The program is part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum introduces kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate experiences. - Since 2018, children, families and staff across The Learning Experience centers have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish. - The Learning Experience says the campaign reflects its mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and communities. - Chief Operating Officer Brad Wahl said the company is committed to high-quality childcare and early education that goes beyond academics. - Wahl also said the partnership with Make-A-Wish is meant to create a meaningful difference and inspire the next generation of philanthropists.

Between the lines: - The campaign gives the company a built-in way to connect brand purpose with family engagement. - The fundraising total is modest in one center, but the national cumulative figure suggests the program has become a recurring part of the company’s identity. - The classroom tie-in may help younger children understand abstract ideas like generosity through concrete actions.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue the annual campaign at centers nationwide as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - The company’s broader network of more than 480 open centers and more than 240 in development gives the program room to scale further. - The company also continues to promote its early education model and related media platform, Bubbles and Friends.