Orlando preschool raises $5,049 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience preschool in Orlando raised $5,049 in April through its annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied fundraising to classroom activities designed to teach young children kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The campaign gave preschoolers a hands-on way to learn kindness, empathy and giving back. - The $5,049 raised in Orlando will support Make-A-Wish, which helps grant wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The effort shows how early childhood education programs can connect classroom lessons to real-world community impact.

What happened: - Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Orlando raised $5,049 during the center’s month-long Let’s Grant Wishes campaign in April. - The fundraiser benefited Make-A-Wish. - The campaign included donations, events and classroom activities.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Preschoolers took part in fundraising events tied to the campaign. - Classroom activities focused on compassion and helping others. - Center leaders Christina Rojas, Lasandra Talleyrand, Arnold Talleyrand, Jackie Talleyrand and Enid Guillen guided the campaign. - Philanthropic mascots Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua helped bring the program to life. - 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 initiative reflects its mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and communities.

Between the lines: - The fundraising campaign is doing double duty as philanthropy and early education. - The program is designed to make abstract ideas like service and generosity concrete for young children. - The Orlando center is part of a broader company effort, not an isolated event. - Since 2018, The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish. - The company also uses the campaign to reinforce its brand identity around purposeful learning and community involvement.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue the annual campaign across its centers. - The company will keep pairing fundraising with classroom-based lessons on empathy and service. - The Orlando result adds to the company’s nationwide Make-A-Wish total, which is expected to keep growing.

The bottom line: - The Orlando preschool turned a charity drive into a lesson in empathy while raising money for children with critical illnesses. - The effort reflects The Learning Experience’s wider push to blend early education with community service.