The Learning Experience preschool in Brandon raises $5,001 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Brandon, Fla., raised $5,001 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, and adds to more than $11.5 million the company has raised nationwide since 2018.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned a local preschool fundraiser into direct support for children with critical illnesses through Make-A-Wish. - The effort also used hands-on activities to teach young children empathy, generosity and service. - The fundraiser adds to The Learning Experience’s broader philanthropy curriculum, which is built to connect early education with community impact.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Brandon, Fla., raised $5,001 during the center’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff supported the effort through donations, events and classroom activities. - The fundraising benefited Make-A-Wish.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children during the month-long campaign. - Center leaders Jennifer Winistorfer, Dominique Rock and Haley Hultz guided the activities. - The preschool used philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” during the campaign. - The campaign focused classroom learning on compassion and helping others. - The initiative 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 Learning Experience said the campaign reflects its mission to make a positive difference for children, families and communities. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company is committed to high-quality childcare and early education that goes beyond academic basics. - Wahl said the company is proud to partner with Make-A-Wish and inspire the next generation of philanthropists. - Since 2018, The Learning Experience centers nationwide have collectively raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish. - The Learning Experience says it has more than 480 centers open and more than 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 uses its L.E.A.P. Curriculum 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 company says it 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 fundraiser shows how early childhood programs can use service projects to make philanthropy part of daily learning. - The company is also reinforcing its brand around purpose-driven education, not just childcare. - The national fundraising total suggests the Brandon campaign is part of a larger, long-running relationship between The Learning Experience and Make-A-Wish.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue using the annual Make-A-Wish campaign as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - The company’s broader center expansion means similar fundraising efforts could reach more families and children in future years. - The Brandon center can build on this year’s campaign to deepen community participation and classroom learning.