Fuquay-Varina preschool raises $5,000 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Fuquay-Varina raised $5,000 during an April campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied fundraising to early-childhood lessons on kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned a preschool fundraiser into a hands-on lesson in philanthropy for young children. - The $5,000 raised will support Make-A-Wish efforts for children living with critical illnesses. - The program shows how early childhood education can build empathy through real-world service.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Fuquay-Varina raised $5,000 during the center’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign. - The month-long effort ran in April and included preschoolers, families and staff. - The fundraising supported Make-A-Wish. - The campaign took place at The Learning Experience preschool in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.

The details: - Children took part in letters to wish children, fundraising events and classroom activities focused on compassion and helping others. - Center leaders Mary Ellen Clay, Stephanie Kinley and Swami Patel guided the campaign. - The preschool used philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” during the effort. - The campaign is part of The Learning Experience’s proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum teaches kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate activities. - The Learning Experience said its goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and the communities it serves. - Since 2018, children, families and staff across The Learning Experience centers have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser gives the company a visible way to connect classroom learning with community service. - The approach also reinforces the brand’s broader childcare message: education should include social and emotional development, not just academic basics. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the partnership with Make-A-Wish helps create a meaningful difference in the communities the company serves while inspiring future philanthropists.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to keep using the annual campaign as a recurring part of its philanthropy curriculum. - The company’s nationwide network of more than 480 open centers and more than 240 locations in development gives the program a wide potential reach. - The Learning Experience says its broader education model continues beyond the classroom through Bubbles and Friends, its educational media platform and companion app.

The bottom line: - A local preschool fundraiser raised money for Make-A-Wish while teaching young children that small acts of giving can have real impact.