Boynton Beach preschool raises $10,324 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience Preschool in Boynton Beach raised $10,324 in April through its annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign for Make-A-Wish. The fundraiser tied early childhood learning to philanthropy, giving children hands-on lessons in kindness, empathy and community service while supporting wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned a local preschool fundraiser into direct support for Make-A-Wish and children with critical illnesses. - The effort also used philanthropy as an early-learning tool, teaching preschoolers compassion, generosity and service through real activities. - The campaign is part of The Learning Experience’s broader curriculum, so the impact extends beyond one center in Boynton Beach.

What happened: - The Learning Experience Preschool in Boynton Beach raised $10,324 during its month-long “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff members contributed through donations, fundraising events and classroom activities. - The campaign benefited Make-A-Wish and supported life-changing wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - Center leaders Joanna Colon, Montreana Surrell and Gorvante Bethea guided the activities with the help of philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua.”

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children as part of the campaign. - Classroom lessons focused on compassion and helping others. - The fundraiser reflected The Learning Experience’s mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and the communities it serves. - The “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign is part of the company’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - That curriculum introduces children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate experiences. - The company’s broader approach links hands-on participation with lessons about the value of giving back. - Since 2018, children, families and staff members across The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish. - The Learning Experience operates more than 480 centers and has over 240 additional locations in development across the U.S. and U.K. - The company serves children from six weeks to six years old. - The Learning Experience’s L.E.A.P.® Curriculum is designed to support cognitive, social and emotional development. - The company also extends learning through Bubbles and Friends®, an educational media platform with original characters, music, video content and a companion app. - The Learning Experience has been recognized as the No. 1 Childcare Franchise by Entrepreneur magazine and the No. 1 Education Franchise by Franchise Business Review.

Between the lines: - The fundraising effort shows how a preschool can use a charity campaign to reinforce classroom values in a real-world setting. - The national Make-A-Wish total suggests the Boynton Beach campaign is part of a long-running, companywide philanthropy program, not a one-off event. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company aims to go beyond basic academics and inspire the next generation of philanthropists.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is expected to continue using its annual philanthropy campaign as part of its early-childhood curriculum. - The company’s nationwide center network gives the Make-A-Wish partnership room to keep scaling. - Families, staff and children at future campaigns will likely continue supporting both fundraising and classroom learning at the same time.

The bottom line: - The Boynton Beach preschool raised cash for Make-A-Wish and used the campaign to teach young children how community service works in practice.