The Learning Experience Blackwood raises $10,100 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Blackwood, New Jersey, raised $10,100 during the center’s April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied fundraising to classroom lessons on kindness and empathy while adding to a nationwide total of more than $11.5 million raised since 2018.

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 kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service. - The Blackwood effort showed how a local preschool can pair philanthropy with hands-on learning.

What happened: - The Learning Experience in Blackwood, New Jersey, raised $10,100 during its annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff took part in the month-long effort. - The campaign benefited Make-A-Wish. - The effort was tied to The Learning Experience’s mission to make a positive difference in children’s lives, families and local communities.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Children joined fundraising events and classroom activities centered on compassion and helping others. - Center leaders Tracy Hundley, Alexandra Ahl, Lee Handis and Nicole Ritter guided the campaign. - The preschool used philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” to bring the effort to life. - The campaign is part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum introduces age-appropriate lessons on kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service. - The Learning Experience says the campaign helps children see how 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 campaign extends learning beyond academics and frames philanthropy as part of early education. - The fundraiser also helps build family and staff participation around a shared community cause. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company is committed to high-quality childcare and early education beyond the “ABCs and 123s.” - Wahl said the partnership with Make-A-Wish is meant to make a meaningful difference while inspiring future philanthropists.

What's next: - The Learning Experience will likely continue using its annual Make-A-Wish campaign as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - Nationwide participation across the company’s centers could add to the total raised for Make-A-Wish in future years. - The Blackwood center may continue combining classroom activities with community fundraising to reinforce the lesson.

The bottom line: - The Blackwood preschool raised money for wish-granting while teaching young children that giving back is part of learning.