Huntersville preschool raises $5,262 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience in Huntersville raised $5,262 during its April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied fundraising to classroom lessons on kindness, empathy and community service while supporting children with critical illnesses.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned early childhood education into a real-world philanthropy lesson for preschoolers, families and staff. - The $5,262 total will help Make-A-Wish grant wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The effort supports a broader model of teaching kindness, generosity and community service through hands-on participation.

What happened: - The Learning Experience in Huntersville ran its annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” fundraising campaign during April. - Preschoolers, families and staff members raised $5,262 for Make-A-Wish. - Children took part in donations, fundraising events and classroom activities tied to the campaign. - Center leaders Christina Helms, Pamela Norman and Jeetu Kancharla guided the effort alongside the mascots Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua. - Children also wrote encouraging letters to wish children.

The details: - 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 activities. - The school says the program helps children understand 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. - The Learning Experience says the annual campaign reflects its mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and communities. - The Learning Experience operates more than 480 centers and has 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, its educational media platform with original characters, music, video content and a companion app.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser doubles as brand-building for The Learning Experience by linking education, family engagement and charity. - The program gives preschoolers a concrete way to practice empathy instead of only hearing about it in class. - The scale of the nationwide Make-A-Wish effort suggests the campaign is a recurring part of the company’s culture, not a one-off event.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue the annual campaign as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - Nationwide center participation could keep adding to the company’s long-running Make-A-Wish fundraising total. - The Huntersville center may use the campaign’s momentum to reinforce classroom lessons on service and compassion.

The bottom line: - A local preschool fundraiser became both a charitable contribution and a hands-on lesson in empathy.