February 2015

Connection$

An e-newsletter for volunteers and friends

OUR

GENEROUS SPONSORS

Albert & Flora Ellinger Foundation

ANON Charitable Trust

Dorothy Inbusch Foundation

Evinrude Foundation

Helfaer Foundation

Krause Family Foundation

Mosher Family Foundation

Peck Foundation

Stella H. Jones Foundation

Stevens Family Foundation

Tate Family Foundation

Waukesha County Community Foundation

Weiss Family Foundation

I want to thank you once again for your support of Make A Difference - Wisconsin and share some exciting updates. We recently celebrated the achievements of our Money Coach students, who have been working hard toward their goals. How inspiring to hear a bunch of teens talking about tracking expenses and saving! You can read about the event below.

Thanks to YOU and your endless support, Make A Difference - Wisconsin received the 2014 Governor's Financial Literacy Legacy award.

And, I'm excited to introduce Rebecca Neumann, the newest addition to our Board of Directors.

Seats are selling fast for the 7th annual Investment Conference, scheduled for May 13th. You won't want to miss this one. Be sure to visit our conference website, www.makeadifferenceconference.com to register for the Midwest's premier investment event.

Thanks so much for all your support!

Brenda Campbell
Executive Director

Over $24,000 in scholarships awarded to Money Coach students

Money Coach students talk about life after high school with a UWM volunteer.

On February 18, 110 teens from 10 local high schools and community groups gathered at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Zelazo Center to be recognized for their achievements in our Money Coach program. Money Coach is taking financial literacy to the next level by delivering one-on-one financial mentoring to teens in the Milwaukee area. By the end of the school year, teens can earn up to $500 to use toward college or career-related goals, such as purchasing a laptop or buying a car. READ MORE

James Madison High School students with their Money Coach Bryan Lisowski of Johnson Bank

We are honored to have received the

2014 Financial Literacy Legacy Award

Founder Lloyd Levin, Program Manager Desiree Cocroft, and Governor Scott Walker

Make A Difference - Wisconsin was presented with the 2014 Wisconsin Financial Literacy Legacy Award at a ceremony at the Capitol on January 28th. The legacy award is given to an organization, business, or individual whose purpose and heritage is ingrained in sustained financial literacy and capability. Award recipients are selected by the Governor's Council on Financial Literacy.

Founder Lloyd Levin and Program Manager Desiree Cocroft accepted the award on behalf of the hundreds of volunteers and stakeholders who have helped empower over 40,000 students throughout Wisconsin.

Click here to read the full press release.

Introducing new Board Director

Rebecca Neumann

Rebecca Neumann is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. She is also the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Economics, a role in which she has significant contact with both undergraduate students and graduate students responsible for teaching in the undergraduate program.READ MORE

Seats selling fast for the 7th Annual Investment Conference

Howard Marks

Keynote speaker

For the seventh year, the Make A Difference - Wisconsin Investment Conference is bringing together some of the brightest national and local investment minds to share their actionable ideas and investment insights. Highlighting this year's conference will be Howard Marks of Oaktree Capital Management.

Ann Miletti

Ernesto Ramos

John Thompson

We are excited to also welcome speakers Ann Miletti, Managing Director at Wells Capital Management, Ernesto Ramos, Portfolio Manager and Head of Equities at BMO Global Asset Management, and John Thompson, CEO at Vilas Capital Management.

The 7th annual Make A Difference - Wisconsin Investment Conference will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2015.

To reserve your seat and learn more about this year's speakers, please visit our website.

Sponsored by

Other sponsorship opportunities are still available!

Volunteers hone skills at winter training

A game of Financial Jeopardy, an activity that is used in the classroom with our students, set the stage as participants arrived at the Jan. 21st volunteer training event graciously hosted by Heartland Advisors.

Close to 50 volunteers attended the afternoon training that focused on classroom management and presentation. Participants shared their best practices and ideas in small groups, providing new and seasoned volunteers with a variety of tools to utilize in the classroom.

Volunteer training events are routinely held twice a year, at the beginning of each school semester. Consider joining us at our next training!

For volunteer opportunities, please contact

Kathy at kathy@makeadifferencewisconsin.org

or call (414)273-8101.

America Saves Week is February 23 - 28, 2015. This annual event is dedicated to promoting good savings behavior and encourages individuals to assess their own saving status, reduce debt, and build wealth.

Make A Difference - Wisconsin will again partner with the America Savings Education Council to promote America Saves Week. Let's encourage our friends, family, and community members to start saving! Visit http://www.americasaves.org to start your savings goal today!

Help us reach more students!

Donate to Make A Difference - Wisconsin today to give area teens the skills they need to make sound financial decisions.

Make A Difference - Wisconsin, Inc.

is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to provide financial literacy programs and resources that empower students to make sound financial decisions.

Make A Difference - Wisconsin engages volunteers from the local business and professional community in the delivery of financial education in high school classrooms.

For more information, please visit the

Make A Difference - Wisconsin website at