By admin 
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — In an effort to empower the next generation, three North Carolina high school seniors founded a nonprofit organization to teach financial literacy to students across the country.
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Toby Qin, Vrund Gurjar, and Liam Griffin, all seniors, founded Building Financial Futures of America (BFF of America) during their sophomore year to address the glaring gap in financial education in their community.
Toby Qin explained why they started the group.
“We really were inspired by seeing the disparity in our community when it comes to financial literacy education.”
Their vision became reality in the summer of 2025 when they launched BBF of America as a high school club dedicated to teaching younger students essential financial skills.
In its second school year, BBF of America has made significant strides, with Toby and Liam attending school in Orange County, while Vrund is enrolled in a school near Charlotte.
The organization has delivered financial literacy curricula to more than 6,500 students across more than 100 schools nationwide.
With more than 80 student chapters in about 20 states, the founders plan to expand to all 50 states by year’s end
“We have full potential to be in 50 by the end of the year,” Liam Griffin said.
The journey to empower younger students is deeply personal for the trio.
Toby and Vrund are both children of first-generation immigrants who faced financial challenges, while Liam was raised in a single-parent household after the tragic loss of his father. Their backgrounds fuel their passion for making a difference through financial education.
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Vrund Gurjar voiced the urgency of this mission.
“It was truly shocking to me how a bunch of these younger students just felt like subscriptions and paid services were just part of everyone’s daily expenses.”
The BBF of America initiative aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate financial complexities.
Beyond curriculum delivery, the founders are working with state lawmakers to strengthen North Carolina’s education policy. They are advocating for integrating fundamental economic concepts, such as opportunity cost and scarcity, into the eighth-grade curriculum to prepare students for future financial decisions and encourage them to explore related opportunities.
As parents express their gratitude for the program, Liam highlighted the club’s impact.
“Oftentimes the reason why they’re saying thank you is because they didn’t quite know how to explain it themselves,” Liam said.
The organization not only eases the burden of financial education for parents but also builds a foundation for leadership among youth.
For more information on Building Financial Futures of America and to learn how they are changing lives through financial literacy, visit their website.
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