Make a Difference Wisconsin Inc

Studies show that U.S. teens are graduating from high school without solid financial management skills. The lure of credit card offers and check-cashing stores, combined with a lack of money management education, sets many up for financial crises that can last a lifetime. A teen that is better educated about money management is more likely to become a smarter spender, a better saver and eventully, a more productive adult.

The Make A Difference program is delivered by volunteer instructors from the local business community. We train and place them in high school classrooms, where they present a program of three seminars on basic financial literacy: Bank Your Future (budgeting and saving), Check It Out (understanding checking accounts and how to responsibly maintain one and To Your Credit (understanding credit cards, credit history/scores, and credit reports).

Here are a few of the comments shared by students who completed the program:

"I learned that if you keep good credit you have more opportunities in life. It's like your GPA for money habits."      - Elio A.

"I learned never to use check cashing stores. They are rip-offs. You might as well throw half your paycheck away." - Smantha W.

"I learned that you shouldn't buy stuff if you don't have the money to pay for it. Someone should tell everyone this."     - John L.