Macungie preschool raises $5,175 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience in Macungie raised $5,175 during its April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort mixed fundraising with classroom activities meant to teach preschoolers kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The campaign tied early childhood education to hands-on philanthropy. - The money supports Make-A-Wish and helps grant wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The program is designed to teach preschoolers kindness, empathy, inclusion and giving back through real-world experience.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Macungie raised $5,175 during the school’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Families, staff members and children took part in donations, events and classroom activities. - The fundraiser benefited Make-A-Wish.

The details: - Center leaders Gwen Cromer, Mary Christensen and Britt Hemphill guided the campaign. - Philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” were part of the effort. - Preschoolers wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Children also took part in activities focused on compassion and helping others. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company aims to provide high-quality childcare and early education beyond academics and to create a meaningful difference in the communities it serves. - The Learning Experience says its proprietary philanthropy curriculum uses age-appropriate experiences to introduce children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service. - Since 2018, children, families and staff members across The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

Between the lines: - The campaign gives The Learning Experience a visible way to connect its education model with community engagement. - The fundraiser also reinforces a broader trend in early education programs using service projects to teach social-emotional skills. - The company’s national Make-A-Wish total shows the Macungie effort is part of a much larger recurring program, not a one-off event.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is expected to continue its annual philanthropy campaign across centers. - The Macungie preschool’s fundraising model may serve as a template for future classroom-based community service efforts. - The company will keep promoting its early education and philanthropy curriculum alongside its broader growth across the U.S. and U.K.