The Learning Experience Ramsey raises $5,052 for Make-A-Wish

Preschoolers, families and staff at The Learning Experience in Ramsey, NJ, raised $5,052 in April through the center’s annual Make-A-Wish campaign. The effort tied fundraising to lessons on kindness and empathy as part of the preschool’s philanthropy curriculum.

Why it matters: - The Ramsey preschool campaign turned a charity drive into a classroom lesson on compassion, giving children a hands-on way to learn empathy and community service. - The funds support Make-A-Wish, which grants wishes for children living with critical illnesses. - The campaign also shows how early childhood programs can connect social-emotional learning with real-world philanthropy.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Ramsey raised $5,052 during the center’s month-long “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Families, staff members and children contributed through donations, events and classroom activities. - The campaign supported Make-A-Wish and its mission to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

The details: - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children during the campaign. - Preschoolers took part in fundraising events tied to the effort. - Classroom activities focused on compassion and helping others. - Center leaders Tara Ryan, Kathleen Raines, Karrah Winans, Manoj Gandhi, Sushil Gandhi, Ajay Malpani and Neelam Kalinani guided the campaign. - The preschool used philanthropic mascots “Grace the Greyhound” and “Charity Chihuahua” to help bring the program to life. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company aims to provide childcare and early education that goes beyond basic academics. - Wahl said the partnership with Make-A-Wish is meant to make a meaningful difference in local communities while inspiring future philanthropists.

Between the lines: - The “Let’s Grant Wishes” 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 program is designed to show that small acts of giving can strengthen communities. - Since 2018, The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish. - The nationwide total suggests the Ramsey effort is part of a larger, repeatable fundraising model rather than a one-off event.

What’s next: - The Learning Experience is expected to continue its annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign as part of its broader philanthropy curriculum. - The company will keep using classroom-based charitable activities to reinforce lessons on empathy and community service. - More Make-A-Wish fundraising is likely across The Learning Experience’s network of centers nationwide.

The bottom line: - The Ramsey preschool used a charity campaign to raise money and teach children how giving back works in practice.