Richmond preschool raises $38,867 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Richmond Pecan Grove raised $38,867 in April for Make-A-Wish through the center’s annual Let’s Grant Wishes campaign. The effort tied fundraising to classroom lessons on kindness, empathy and community service.

Why it matters: - The campaign turned early childhood education into direct community support for children with critical illnesses. - The fundraiser also gave preschoolers a hands-on lesson in generosity, compassion and service. - The Richmond center’s results add to a nationwide campaign that has raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish since 2018.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Richmond Pecan Grove raised $38,867 during the center’s annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Families, staff and children contributed through donations, events and classroom activities. - The fundraising supported Make-A-Wish and its work granting wishes for children living with critical illnesses.

The details: - Center leaders Dedria Tomlinson, Shakena Dent and Crystal Walton guided the campaign. - Philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” helped bring the activities to life. - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children. - Children also took part in fundraising events and classroom lessons focused on compassion and helping others. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company aims to go beyond traditional childcare and create meaningful community impact. - Wahl said the partnership with Make-A-Wish is designed to inspire the next generation of philanthropists.

Between the lines: - 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 activities. - The Richmond effort shows how childcare centers can pair fundraising with social-emotional learning. - The national Make-A-Wish partnership also helps reinforce The Learning Experience’s brand mission across its centers.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is expected to continue using its annual fundraising campaign as part of its philanthropy curriculum. - More centers nationwide may add to the company’s total Make-A-Wish fundraising in future campaigns. - The Richmond center will likely keep blending classroom learning with community service activities.

The bottom line: - A local preschool campaign raised nearly $39,000 while teaching young children that giving back can make a real difference.