The Learning Experience Charlotte raises $5,021 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Charlotte raised $5,021 during an April fundraising campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort ties early childhood learning to philanthropy and adds to more than $11.5 million raised nationwide by The Learning Experience since 2018.

Why it matters: - The campaign shows how early childhood education can turn classroom lessons into real-world community impact. - The $5,021 raised in Charlotte helps support Make-A-Wish for children living with critical illnesses. - The program also teaches preschoolers kindness, empathy and service through hands-on participation.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Charlotte took part in the school’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff raised $5,021 during the month-long effort. - The fundraising supported Make-A-Wish and its work granting wishes for children with critical illnesses. - Center leaders Towanda Rooks, Elliott Rooks, Jessie Grady and Allison George guided the campaign. - The preschool used philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” during the effort.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Preschoolers also joined fundraising events and classroom activities centered on compassion and helping others. - The campaign is part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - That 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 in the lives of children, families and 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. - 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 Charlotte effort is part of a larger national fundraising tradition, which gives the campaign more scale than a single-school charity drive. - The initiative doubles as brand-building and values education, but the on-the-ground result is direct support for Make-A-Wish. - The program shows how schools can use fundraising to reinforce social-emotional learning without separating it from daily classroom activities.

What's next: - The annual campaign is expected to continue as part of The Learning Experience’s philanthropy curriculum. - More centers across the company will likely keep adding to the national Make-A-Wish total in future years. - The Charlotte school will continue using community service activities to teach children about giving back.