The Learning Experience Liberty raises $6,383 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Liberty, Missouri, raised $6,383 in April through the center’s annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign. The fundraiser ties early childhood education to philanthropy by teaching children kindness and empathy while supporting Make-A-Wish children with critical illnesses.

Why it matters: - The fundraiser turned a preschool campaign into direct support for Make-A-Wish children with critical illnesses. - The program also used real-world giving to teach children kindness, empathy and community service. - The Learning Experience says the effort reflects its broader mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and local communities.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Liberty, Missouri, raised $6,383 during the center’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff members took part in the month-long fundraiser. - The campaign supported Make-A-Wish and aimed to help grant life-changing wishes for children living with critical illnesses.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - The campaign included fundraising events and classroom activities focused on compassion and helping others. - Center leaders Amber Limkemann, Lauren Pauls, Bailey Kirtley and Scott Limkemann guided the effort. - The preschool used philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” to bring the campaign to life. - The “Let’s Grant Wishes” 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 Learning Experience says the campaign helps children understand 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.

Between the lines: - The campaign is more than a charity drive. It is also a teaching tool built into the preschool’s curriculum. - The fundraiser gives early childhood education a social-impact angle that can resonate with families and local communities. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company wants to provide early education that goes beyond academics and inspire 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 is expanding nationally and internationally, with more than 480 centers open and over 240 additional locations in development across the U.S. and U.K. - The Learning Experience will keep pairing classroom learning with community service through its L.E.A.P. curriculum and Bubbles and Friends media platform.

The bottom line: - A Liberty preschool fundraiser delivered money for Make-A-Wish and a lesson in giving back at the same time.