Apopka preschool raises $5,224 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience in Apopka collected $5,224 during its April “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign for Make-A-Wish, turning classroom activities into a lesson in kindness and philanthropy. The fundraiser is part of a national program that has raised more than $11.5 million since 2018.

Why it matters: - The fundraiser tied early childhood education to real-world giving. - The campaign supported Make-A-Wish for children living with critical illnesses. - The program aimed to teach preschoolers kindness, empathy, inclusion and community service through hands-on activity.

What happened: - The Learning Experience in Apopka raised $5,224 during its month-long “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff contributed through donations, events and classroom activities. - The campaign benefited Make-A-Wish and helped fund wishes for children with critical illnesses.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Preschoolers took part in fundraising events and compassion-focused classroom activities. - Center leaders Rehan Haider, Vickiana Acosta, Thania Mercado and Diana Pankivska guided the campaign. - The preschool used philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” during the effort. - 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 experiences. - 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 doubles as brand building and community outreach for The Learning Experience. - The fundraiser gives the company a way to show its education model outside traditional academics. - The company is positioning early service learning as part of child development, not just philanthropy. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company wants to go beyond “the ABCs and 123s” and inspire the next generation of philanthropists.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is expected to continue the annual fundraiser as part of its broader philanthropy program. - The company will likely keep using classroom-based service activities to reinforce its curriculum. - The national Make-A-Wish partnership will continue to serve as a recurring community campaign across centers.

The bottom line: - The Apopka preschool turned a month-long fundraiser into a lesson in generosity and raised meaningful support for Make-A-Wish.