Denver preschool raises $5,010 for Make-A-Wish

The Learning Experience in Green Valley Ranch said preschoolers, families and staff raised $5,010 during an April fundraising campaign for Make-A-Wish. The effort tied philanthropy to early childhood education and added to a nationwide total of more than $11.5 million raised since 2018.

Why it matters: - The campaign pairs early education with community giving, helping preschoolers learn kindness, empathy and service through real-world action. - The $5,010 raised in Denver will support Make-A-Wish efforts for children living with critical illnesses. - The program also reinforces The Learning Experience’s broader philanthropy curriculum across its centers.

What happened: - Preschoolers at The Learning Experience in Green Valley Ranch, Denver, took part in the annual “Let’s Grant Wishes” campaign in April. - Preschoolers, families and staff members raised $5,010 for Make-A-Wish during the month-long effort. - The campaign included donations, fundraising events and classroom activities. - Children wrote encouraging letters to wish children and took part in compassion-focused lessons.

The details: - Center leaders Chonta Echols, Markeisha Brandon, Elisabet Saucedo and Calise Gillespie guided the campaign. - The preschool’s philanthropic mascots, Grace the Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua, helped bring the program to life. - The Learning Experience said the campaign is part of its proprietary philanthropy curriculum. - The curriculum introduces children to kindness, inclusion, generosity and community service through age-appropriate experiences. - The company said the effort helps children see that small acts of giving can strengthen their communities. - Since 2018, The Learning Experience centers nationwide have raised more than $11.5 million for Make-A-Wish. - The Learning Experience has more than 480 centers open and more than 240 additional locations in development across the U.S. and U.K. - The company serves children from six weeks to six years old.

Between the lines: - The campaign shows how preschools can use philanthropy as a teaching tool, not just a fundraising event. - The Denver result is small compared with the nationwide total, but it adds local momentum to a long-running companywide effort. - The program also gives families a visible way to connect classroom learning with community impact. - Brad Wahl, chief operating officer of The Learning Experience, said the company wants to go beyond early academics and inspire the next generation of philanthropists.

What's next: - The Learning Experience is likely to continue its annual Make-A-Wish fundraising campaign across centers. - The company says its mission remains focused on high-quality childcare and positive community impact. - More fundraising could build on the nationwide total that has topped $11.5 million since 2018.

The bottom line: - A Denver preschool used a charity drive to teach empathy and raise money for children facing critical illness.