January 2017 news and updates:
10 tips from 10 years of financial education
Money Coach volunteer Que El-Amin focuses 
on student interactivity and compassion.

As 2016 came to a close, we took some time to reflect on all we've accomplished in more than a decade of teen financial empowerment. Brenda Campbell, our president and CEO, shared 10 of the most important things she's learned over the past 10 years in financial literacy

For thousands of teens in our community, we're excited to make 2017 our biggest year yet! 

   
 
At this school, every teen started the day with financial literacy


All juniors at La Follette High School in Madison recently began their day with lessons on budgets, banking, saving and paychecks. It was a valuable way to start the day for 376 students at La Follette, a critical new partner in our goal to bring financial education to every teen in Wisconsin.

Katie McCloskey, volunteer, led students at La Follette H.S. through the basics of a standard paycheck during one of many recent lessons held for the first time at the Madison school.
Will financial fundamentals be mandatory in Wisconsin high schools?    


Wisconsin legislators are considering a financial literacy mandate for all state high school students. Brenda Campbell shared our stance on the importance of giving teens control over their financial futures and the value that could come from a funded mandate in this news article. 
Did you know? Curriculum changes and upcoming training

We've listened to students, volunteers and educators to make exciting program updates to Money Sense. One big change involves increased student and volunteer interaction in the "Loan Officer Activity" during the "To Your Credit" lesson. If you haven't seen these changes yet, there are two easy ways to learn more:

1) Start or revisit online training. To do that, first click on the "Volunteer Log In" link at the top right of our website. Then, sign in with your volunteer log in email and password. Once you're logged in, click on the "Online Training" link in the left-hand menu. From the link, follow instructions to watch videos on the updated curriculum.

2) Join in-person training from Noon to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8 at ManpowerGroup Headquarters, 100 Manpower Pl., Milwaukee, WI 53212. Sign up through  the "Training Calendar" in your Volunteer Log In.

Volunteer Don Balchunas, right, leads four juniors from St. Thomas More H.S. through the updated loan officer activity.


(For issues with in-person or online training, contact Kathy, Volunteer Manager, at kathy@makeadifferencewisconsin.org.)
Supporter spotlight: PwC Charitable Foundation, Gramann and you!

Every day, we're reminded of the many marvelous people who share our belief in improving teen financial futures. This month, we wanted to make special mention of a few supporters.

The PwC  Charitable Foundation, Inc. made a significant contribution to teens in our financial literacy lessons.  Ray Wilson, from PwC and a new Advisory Council member, said:  "Financial literacy is an important focus area for PwC. We are committed to supporting efforts that will help communities build a healthy, robust, financially independent future."

Gramann Reporting made a contribution for a fourth year in a row. The court reporting company noted the importance of financial education in breaking cycles of stress and debt in this recent blog.

Finally, we wanted to again say thank you for your support during our Fall Appeal. Your generosity so far will provide programs and resources to 842 teens in our community. However, we are still a bit short of our goal. To help us meet our Fall Appeal goal for great teens like Sahara ( right), donate here.

Sahara, a Money Coach grad and current MSOE student, thanked supporters from Potawatomi's Heart of Canal and talked budgets during a recent visit to our office.

Make A Difference - Wisconsin 
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Milwaukee, WI  53203 
414-273-8101
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These great supporters help make teens "money smart". Thank you!

























MGIC









Racine Community Foundation
R&L

Sattell new






WaterStone Bank











Albert & Flora Ellinger Foundation

Anon Charitable Trust

Catholic Faith Community of St. William Parish

Dorothy Inbusch Foundation

Ettinger Family Foundation

Gardner Foundation

Ralph Evinrude Foundation

Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation

Herb Kohl Charities

Krause Family Foundation
Krause Woodhaven Foundation

George & Julie Mosher Family Foundation

Peck Foundation

Priebe Family Foundation

R.A. Stevens

Rita Stevens Charitable Trust

Stella H. Jones Foundation

Tate Family Foundation

Weiss Family Foundation