Breaking the Cycle: Racine Community Foundation and SecureFutures Partner to Empower Teens
Every year SecureFutures recognizes one individual volunteer and one partner organization for their contribution to our mission of teen financial empowerment. The award is named to honor our founder, and this year we are excited to celebrate Racine Community Foundation as the 2024 Lloyd Levin Difference Maker Organization.
The Racine Community Foundation has long been a driving force behind initiatives that uplift Racine County, and their ongoing support of SecureFutures is no exception. Liz Powell, President and CEO of the Racine Community Foundation, has been instrumental in guiding the Foundation’s mission to meet the community’s greatest needs. Since 2016, the Foundation has partnered with SecureFutures to provide critical financial education to teens, first through the Money Sense program and now with the recent expansion of Money Coach into Racine high schools. This commitment to financial capability earned them the 2024 Lloyd Levin Difference Maker Organization award at our donor appreciation event.
As the Racine Community Foundation approaches its 50th anniversary, Liz reflects on its origins and enduring vision. “The Foundation was started by a group of concerned citizens who wanted to make sure that there would be some sort of an organization that would help the community in perpetuity,” she explains. “Every fund we have is endowed. We stick to the vision of our founders to ensure our work benefits the community long-term.”
With $80 million in its portfolio and $1.7 million awarded annually through its competitive grants process, the Foundation has a broad focus on addressing Racine County’s most pressing needs. From supporting the local Symphony and Art Museum to funding mental health clinics in Racine Unified schools, their reach is vast. Liz explains, “We don’t do any programming. We fund those who provide the services our community needs. We’re focused on making things better in Racine County.”
One of the key areas the Racine Community Foundation prioritizes is breaking the cycle of generational poverty, which is why SecureFutures’ mission resonates so strongly with them. “We’re looking at generations of young people growing up not knowing anything about financial literacy. The impact that financial education has on the family and on individuals is huge. We want to give our kids the tools they need to be successful as they enter adulthood.”
Through the Foundation’s partnership with SecureFutures, Liz is confident the programming is having a positive ripple effect on teens and their families and believes the expansion of Money Coach into Racine is a significant step toward empowering more teens with financial skills. “Teens are old enough to communicate what they learn with their families and friends,” she says. “That base knowledge can spread throughout the community, and I think it will have positive repercussions we don’t even know about yet.”
Brenda Campbell, President and CEO of SecureFutures, underscores the critical role the Racine Community Foundation plays in their work. “The Racine Community Foundation has been an invaluable partner in our efforts to equip teens with the financial knowledge and skills they need for a successful future. Liz’s leadership has not only provided crucial support, but has also opened countless doors for our expansion in Racine, and helped raise awareness of the importance of financial education in the community.”
Winning the 2024 Lloyd Levin Difference Maker Organization award is a meaningful recognition for the Racine Community Foundation, but Liz humbly notes that supporting organizations like SecureFutures that are doing good work, is simply what they do. “It’s an honor and quite a surprise,” she says. “We try to help however we can, and it’s overwhelming because it feels like just doing our job. But to be recognized for it feels really special.”
SecureFutures is grateful to the Racine Community Foundation for its partnership and for ensuring that the next generation is equipped with the knowledge and skills to break the cycle of poverty and build a brighter financial future.
