Waxhaw preschool raises $5,076 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience preschool in Waxhaw, North Carolina, raised $5,076 in April through its annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign supporting 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 Waxhaw campaign shows how early childhood programs can pair philanthropy with classroom learning. - The funds support Make-A-Wish and help grant wishes for children with critical illnesses. - The effort also reinforces The Learning Experience’s broader goal of teaching kindness, generosity and community service.

What happened: - Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Waxhaw raised $5,076 during the month-long campaign in April. - The fundraiser was part of the preschool’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign benefiting Make-A-Wish. - The campaign included donations, events and classroom activities.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Preschoolers took part in fundraising events and compassion-focused classroom lessons. - Center leaders Jessica Martinez, Brittany Jones, Brittany Bednaz, Melody Garcia and Elias Garcia guided the campaign. - Philanthropic mascots Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua helped bring the program to life. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company wants to go beyond basic academics and create a meaningful difference in the communities it serves. - Since 2018, The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

Between the lines: - The campaign is built to make giving feel concrete for young children, not abstract. - The preschool uses the fundraising effort as part of its proprietary philanthropy curriculum, which introduces concepts such as kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service. - The model links social-emotional learning with real-world service, which can deepen the lesson for families and staff as well as students.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue the annual campaign as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - The nationwide fundraising total gives the program a clear benchmark for future years. - The preschool will likely keep using hands-on activities to connect classroom learning with community impact.

The bottom line: - In Waxhaw, a preschool fundraiser became both a community donation drive and a lesson in empathy for young children.