Palm Beach Gardens preschool raises $5,098 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience in Palm Beach Gardens raised $5,098 during its April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign to support Make-A-Wish and teach preschoolers about kindness and community service. The fundraiser is part of the company’s wider philanthropy curriculum, which has helped raise more than $11.5 million nationwide since 2018.

Why it matters: - The campaign connected early childhood education with hands-on philanthropy, giving preschoolers a real-world lesson in empathy, generosity and service. - The $5,098 raised will help Make-A-Wish grant wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The effort also shows how a local preschool fundraiser can scale into a broader national giving program.

What happened: - Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Palm Beach Gardens raised $5,098 during the monthlong April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign. - The fundraiser supported Make-A-Wish. - Children took part in letter-writing, fundraising events and classroom activities centered on compassion and helping others. - Center leaders Kaitlyn Coble, Tikyah Paramore, Paige Daniels and Sherril Shepard guided the activities alongside the philanthropic mascots Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua.

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 experiences. - The program is designed to show children that small acts of giving can strengthen their communities. - Since 2018, children, families and staff 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 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 says its L.E.A.P. curriculum supports 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 reinforces The Learning Experience’s brand around “purposeful learning” by tying classroom activity to community impact. - Make-A-Wish benefits from a recurring source of grassroots support rather than a one-time donation. - The campaign also gives families and staff a shared activity that extends the preschool’s mission beyond academics. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company wants to provide childcare and early education that goes beyond basic academics while inspiring the next generation of philanthropists.

What’s next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue using its annual Make-A-Wish campaign as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - The company’s growing center footprint could expand the reach of future fundraising efforts. - Children at Palm Beach Gardens and other centers will continue using hands-on service projects to learn about giving back.

The bottom line: - A local preschool fundraiser became both a community donation drive and an early lesson in civic responsibility.