Jacksonville preschool raises $5,095 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Jacksonville - River City raised $5,095 in April through the center’s annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied fundraising to hands-on lessons about kindness, empathy and community service for young children.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned early childhood education into real-world philanthropy. - The $5,095 raised will support Make-A-Wish efforts for children living with critical illnesses. - The program is designed to teach preschoolers kindness, empathy and giving back through direct participation.

What happened: - Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Jacksonville - River City raised $5,095 during the center’s month-long Let’s Grant Wishes campaign in April. - The fundraiser supported Make-A-Wish. - The campaign included donations, events and classroom activities. - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children and took part in hands-on activities focused on compassion.

The details: - Center leaders Jacqueline Lomas, Sanela Bikich, Rob Reader, Jordan Lorenzo and Tatiana Morris guided the campaign. - Philanthropic mascots Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua helped bring the activities to life. - The Learning Experience said the campaign reflects its mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and communities. - The Let’s Grant Wishes effort is part of the company’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum introduces children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate experiences. - The company said the hands-on format helps children understand that small acts of giving can strengthen communities. - Since 2018, children, families and staff across The Learning Experience centers have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser doubles as a lesson plan, linking charitable giving with social-emotional learning. - The campaign gives the brand a way to show its education model extends beyond academics. - The national fundraising total suggests the Make-A-Wish partnership has become a recurring part of The Learning Experience’s identity.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to keep using the annual campaign as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - Similar center-level events can be expected to continue supporting Make-A-Wish in future years.

The bottom line: - Jacksonville’s River City preschool raised money and taught children that helping others can start early.