2006-2010 | Launch and Foundation

In March 2006, a posthumous Letter to the Editor from Milwaukee native Marty Stein was published, offering a heartfelt reflection on the state of society and a firm belief that education was the answer to the challenges faced by our community. Stein urged readers to get involved in a child’s life, encouraging them to “help them to see the opportunities, enable them to be all they can be.” His words deeply resonated with his friend Lloyd Levin and helped spark an idea that would soon grow into a movement.

Later that year, Levin founded Make A Difference – Wisconsin, now known as SecureFutures, with a clear mission: to empower teens through personal finance education and make those lessons accessible to students across Wisconsin. Recognizing the need for strong leadership to bring this vision to life, Lloyd asked Brenda Campbell to help lead the organization in its earliest days, a role she continues to hold today as President and CEO. Together, they developed and piloted the Money Sense curriculum in Milwaukee Public Schools, laying the groundwork for what would become a cornerstone program. At the same time, SecureFutures began building essential partnerships with schools, community organizations, and volunteers who shared a belief in the power of financial education.

As the organization grew, so did its commitment to accountability and impact. Student outcomes and impact measurement were introduced in 2008 and 2009, ensuring that programs were not only reaching students but making a measurable difference in their lives. In 2009, SecureFutures also formalized its board governance and organizational structure, strengthening its ability to grow sustainably. That same year marked several important milestones, including the first Investment Conference, now in its 18th year and consistently drawing more than 500 professionals from the investment industry, and the first Volunteer Appreciation event, both early signals of the organization’s commitment to engaging supporters and recognizing the people who made the mission possible.

By 2010, SecureFutures celebrated another milestone with the presentation of its first Volunteer of the Year award, honoring the individuals who brought financial education into classrooms and helped turn one man’s call to action into a lasting legacy.

Today, that legacy continues through the people who choose to get involved. Whether by volunteering in a classroom, making a gift, or advocating for financial education, there are many ways to help shape the next 20 years of SecureFutures.

Learn more about how you can be part of the story.