Sherri Bercheni

By RAYMOND L. SMITH Staff writer

WARREN — Giving young people a glimpse of how to empower their financial futures is the goal of Inspiring Minds volunteer Sherri Bercheni.

Bercheni, a vice president of Remote Delivery Experience at 7/17 Credit Union in Warren, works tirelessly to share with public school age students and young adults the financial knowl edge she has learned in the more than 22 years she has been with the credit union.

“Helping people understand the benefits of savings, how to positively use credit and avoid things that would set them back in achieving their financial goals is important,” Bercheni said. “We primarily work with young people — age 12 to 24 — but sometimes, also work to answer questions posed by older adults needing information.”

Bercheni attempts to impart knowledge of how people can increase their credit score so they can purchase a car, a house or pay for their post high school educations. She has been working with the non-profit, Inspiring Minds, for more than 10 years in getting financial literacy information to young people. For these efforts, Bercheni was named a Community Star. The program, co-sponsored by the Tribume Chronicle and Trumbull 100, recognizes the brightest examples of community service and the people who do those good deeds.

Deryck Toles, founder and executive director of Inspiring Minds — himself a former star — said Bercheni’s ability to connect with young people was evident from the very first time she volunteered to speak to a group of the non-profit’s teenagers.

“Even in that first interaction, she was willing to give students who expressed interest and needed help ways to contact her,” Toles said. “And some did. She was willing to go the extra mile.” our kids reminds her her own experiences growing up in Warren,” Toles said. “She had opportunities to leave, but says this is the community in which she was raised, still has family and friends and has opportunities to give back.”

Since beginning as a volunteer with the organization a decade ago, Bercheni has become a member of the Inspiring Minds board.

“Her experience in financial literacy allows her to bring an unique perspective,” Toles said. “However, in whatever she does she works to build people up and develop them by providing what they need to succeed.

In addition to working with Inspiring Minds, Bercheni also is a member of the Kent State University at Trumbull Advisory Board and, through her job at 7/17 Credit Union, works with Youngstown City School students. She also is one of the founders of a diversity, equity and inclusion com mittee at 7/17.

A Warren G. Harding and a Youngstown State University graduate, Bercheni’s path was long and often difficult.

Bercheni married while in college, had four children and then was divorced. She was left to raise her children with out a husband and without a college degree.

“I was fortunate I began working at 7/17 while I was in school,” she said. “It has been supportive of me as I raised my children and worked to finish my degree.”

Because she had to take periodic breaks from school in order to provide for her young family, Bercheni said her college education took about a decade to complete. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in finance.

She said volunteering in the community is part of her DNA.

“It is important we reach back to our communities to offer support and mentorship to our young people. That’s what Inspiring Minds does.” rsmith@tribtoday.com