Franklin preschool raises $5,007 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Franklin, Tennessee, raised $5,007 in April through the annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort blended fundraising with classroom activities to teach young children kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The Franklin campaign turned early childhood education into hands-on philanthropy. - The $5,007 raised will help Make-A-Wish grant wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The campaign also taught preschoolers practical lessons in kindness, generosity and service.

What happened: - The Learning Experience in Franklin ran its annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” fundraising campaign during April. - Preschoolers, families and staff members raised $5,007 for Make-A-Wish. - Children took part in letter writing, fundraising events and classroom activities centered on compassion and helping others. - Center leaders Alanna Zalud and Daniella Mattingly guided the campaign. - Philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” were part of the activities.

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 activities. - The preschool said the program helps children see that small acts of giving can strengthen their communities. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company aims to provide early education that goes beyond basic academics. - Wahl also said the company is proud to partner with Make-A-Wish and inspire the next generation of philanthropists.

Between the lines: - The fundraiser shows how childcare centers can use charity work as a teaching tool, not just a donation drive. - The campaign links classroom learning with community impact, which can make abstract ideas like empathy and service more concrete for young children. - The initiative also reinforces The Learning Experience’s broader brand message around purposeful learning and community involvement. - Since 2018, children, families and staff across The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue its annual fundraising model as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - The company’s nationwide network of more than 480 open centers and 240 additional locations in development gives the campaign room to expand. - The preschool says the program will keep linking early education with giving back in future years.

The bottom line: - The Franklin preschool raised money for Make-A-Wish while teaching children that community service can start early.