The Learning Experience in Troy raises $5,003 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Troy, Michigan, raised $5,003 during an April campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort blends fundraising with early childhood lessons on kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The campaign raised money for Make-A-Wish, which helps grant wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The fundraiser also served as a hands-on lesson in compassion, generosity and service for preschoolers. - The program ties philanthropy directly to early childhood education, giving children a real-world way to practice kindness.

What happened: - Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Troy raised $5,003 during the center's annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - The month-long effort supported Make-A-Wish. - Center leaders Melissa Newton, Kelly Gvozdic and LeTanya Wilson guided the activities. - The preschool’s philanthropic mascots, Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua, also took part.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Families and staff supported the campaign through donations, events and classroom activities. - The campaign included lessons focused on compassion and helping others. - The Learning Experience said the effort reflects its mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families and communities. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company is committed to education that goes beyond basic academics and wants to inspire the next generation of philanthropists. - The “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign is part of The Learning Experience’s philanthropy curriculum, which introduces kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate experiences. - 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 Troy campaign shows how preschool fundraising can double as social-emotional learning. - The company is using philanthropy as a brand-wide teaching tool, not just a one-time charity drive. - The national total suggests the Make-A-Wish partnership has become a long-running part of The Learning Experience’s identity. - More information - Troy center updates - Facebook page - Bubbles and Friends on YouTube - TikTok account

What's next: - The Learning Experience is expected to continue its annual fundraising campaign as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - The company says it will keep expanding its mission to support children, families and communities through early education and service. - The broader Make-A-Wish partnership will likely remain a recurring national effort across its centers.

The bottom line: - A Troy preschool turned a charity drive into a lesson in empathy, raising $5,003 for Make-A-Wish while reinforcing service-based learning.