Murray Friedman: 20 years of making a difference
August 25, 2026
For Murray Friedman, getting involved with SecureFutures started with a simple opportunity to put his professional experience to work for his community. Twenty years later, that decision has grown into a remarkable legacy of service.
At SecureFutures’ 20th Anniversary Celebration, Murray was honored with the Lloyd Levin Individual Difference Maker Award, recognizing his extraordinary commitment to financial education for teens and his role in helping shape SecureFutures from its earliest days.
Murray first became involved in 2006, when SecureFutures was still known as Make A Difference Wisconsin. At the time, he was working at Associated Bank when a story in the bank’s employee newsletter caught his attention.
“Many years before, I was a Personal Banker and Mortgage Loan Officer, so I was very used to helping educate people on financial matters, and it seemed like a great way to get involved in the community,” Murray recalls.
He began volunteering in Milwaukee Public Schools, teaching Money Sense lessons to high school juniors and seniors. What started in the classroom soon grew into something much bigger. In those early years, Murray remembers an organization fueled by a shared belief in founder Lloyd Levin’s vision and a willingness to do whatever was necessary to move the mission forward.
“I definitely remember the deep passion that all the Board members had about the organization and would do nearly anything to make it all work since Lloyd’s vision and our mission were so important to everyone,” Murray says. “Lots of networking, knocking down barriers and opening new doors, and even getting rather involved with the daily operations of the organization since the office team was so small and there were no formal volunteer committees yet. But it all worked, and growth came rather quickly.”
In 2009, Murray became the organization’s first Board President after Lloyd, taking on the responsibility of helping lead SecureFutures into its next chapter. He also helped establish the organization’s first Governance Committee and the board and tenure structure that remains in place today.
Looking back, Murray says being the first Board President after Lloyd remains one of the experiences he is most proud of, along with doing everything he could to ensure he wouldn’t let Lloyd down. But even as Murray took on leadership roles, he never lost his connection to the classroom.
Over the past 20 years, Murray has contributed more than 150 volunteer hours working directly with students and has volunteered across all three SecureFutures programs. Today, he also serves on the Advisory Council and lends his expertise to the Finance and Marketing & Communications Committees. For Murray, continuing to volunteer comes down to the students themselves.
“I really enjoy spending time with the students, learning about their family situations and futures, and doing whatever I can to not just help the student but often the entire family,” he says. “I get so much enjoyment from it all, and I’m really glad I can share what I’ve learned over all these years.”
One experience in particular demonstrates just how far the impact of a financial lesson can reach. Murray remembers working with a student whose parents spoke very little English and wanted to purchase a home but were unfamiliar with the mortgage process in the United States. Drawing on his banking experience, Murray walked the student through the mortgage process and typical costs. She took that knowledge home and translated it for her parents.
Later, the family bought a home.
It’s the kind of moment that has kept Murray coming back year after year, and one that illustrates his belief that financial education has the potential to reach well beyond an individual student.
After retiring two years ago, Murray made increasing his volunteer involvement part of his retirement plan. He now tries to volunteer at two Money Coach schools most semesters. Receiving an award named for the person whose vision helped start it all is especially meaningful to him.
“It’s such a huge honor, and I truly feel that so many others could easily qualify for the same award,” Murray says. “I’m very thankful and appreciate the award, and I have no plans of slowing down.”
That may be the best way to describe Murray’s 20 years with SecureFutures: he keeps showing up. In classrooms, in leadership roles, on committees, and wherever else his experience can make a difference. And after two decades, Murray has a message for anyone considering doing the same.
“Whatever impact you think your involvement might have on this community — multiply it by ten, even a hundred. Every dollar and every hour of your time is the best investment you could possibly make,” he says. “While I can easily see the way we change thousands of lives in our community every year, SecureFutures has truly changed mine for the better.”
As SecureFutures celebrates 20 years of empowering teens with financial education, Murray’s story is woven throughout that history, from those first Money Sense classrooms to the organization SecureFutures has become today. The Lloyd Levin Individual Difference Maker Award recognizes not simply the many roles Murray has held, but the belief that has kept him involved for two decades: that sharing your time, knowledge, and experience with a young person can create a difference that reaches farther than you may ever know. If you’re interested in volunteering and making a difference in a teen’s life, complete the volunteer interest form. You can learn more about volunteering with SecureFutures on our website.