Teresa Sherman

 Teresa Sherman gained her appreciation for the law in high school after studying the American Constitution and taking an “Intro to Law” class. Graduating from Washington State University with a Political Science major, she and her husband moved to Spokane where she earned her law degree at Gonzaga University. Her legal career began in healthcare law. “I worked with many nonprofits and was also fortunate to serve on boards of well-run nonprofits, including Vanessa Behan, Inland Northwest Blood Center and the Downtown Spokane Exchange Club,” says Sherman. “I saw all the good they do with very little money.”

Sherman recalls, “The Exchange Club received a large estate gift from Merrill and Janet Nystuen that changed our Foundation from a public charity to a private foundation.” This would require additional work and the costs of retaining an attorney and accountant.

Fellow Exchange Club member and attorney Mary Giannini invited Teresa to attend INWCF’s annual Gathering of Philanthropic Corporations and Foundations. Sherman says, “I had heard about INWCF but that evening started me thinking, so I went to the INWCF Web site and studied it. Then I took an idea to the Board to see if they wanted to pursue it.“

As a result, the Exchange Club Foundation transferred the bulk of its assets into four distinct funds at INWCF. “Our Club has no paid staff, so when we partnered with INWCF, we were able to get rid of so much responsibility and just do the fun part,” Sherman says. The Exchange Club recommended INWCF continue to work with the Club’s proven Merrill Lynch investment manager, Glen Schofield so INWCF contracted with Schofield.

The Exchange Club’s charitable focus is child abuse prevention by providing annual grants to Vanessa Behan, Children’s Home Society and Spokane Child Abuse Network. The Club also celebrates Americanism by handing out flags to kids to wave at local parades like Valleyfest. Many Club members were involved in shaping the new partnership. Congratulations and many thanks for your dedication to our community, Teresa Sherman, Mary Giannini, President of the Exchange Club, Sam Faggiano, President of the Exchange Club Foundation, Marc Browning, Treasurer and Meri Berberet, Secretary.