The Learning Experience Harrisburg Raises $10,139 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Harrisburg, North Carolina, raised $10,139 during the center’s April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied fundraising to classroom lessons on kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The Harrisburg preschool raised money for children with critical illnesses while teaching young students how giving back works in real life. - The campaign links early childhood education with community impact, which can turn a fundraiser into a hands-on lesson in empathy and service.

What happened: - The Learning Experience in Harrisburg, North Carolina, raised $10,139 during its month-long “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff supported Make-A-Wish through donations, events and classroom activities. - The campaign helped support wishes for children living with critical illnesses.

The details: - Center leaders Vivek Gaddam, Ashley Washing, ShaQuita Cunningham, Monica McMillan and Keniyia Allison guided the effort. - The preschool’s philanthropic mascots, Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua, helped bring the campaign to life. - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children and took part in fundraising activities. - Classroom lessons focused on compassion, helping others and generosity. - The campaign is part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum introduces children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate experiences. - The program is designed to show children that small acts of giving can strengthen their communities. - Since 2018, The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

Between the lines: - The Harrisburg campaign is also a branding exercise for The Learning Experience’s broader mission around purposeful learning and community service. - The fundraiser shows how preschool programs can use charitable campaigns to reinforce social and emotional development, not just academic basics. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company aims to go beyond “the ABCs and 123s” and inspire the next generation of philanthropists.

What’s next: - The Learning Experience is expected to continue its annual Make-A-Wish fundraising campaign across centers. - The company will keep using philanthropy activities to connect classroom learning with community involvement. - The Learning Experience says its national centers will continue supporting children, families and local communities through its education and service programs.

The bottom line: - The Harrisburg preschool turned a fundraiser into a teaching tool and added to a national campaign that has now raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.