Inspired by a Family Value of Giving Back, Teen Leads Foundation to Empower At-Risk Girls
When Shreya Mantha’s grandmother was diagnosed with a terminal illness, her last wish was for her two granddaughters to honor her memory by doing something to help vulnerable girls. Inspired by the example set by their parents – who engaged the girls in volunteering activities from a young age – Shreya and her younger sister Sahana set out to honor their grandmother’s wish by making a difference for at-risk girls in their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Founded in 2014, when Shreya was just 12 years old, Foundation For Girls is a youth-led social venture that endeavors to change the life trajectory for at-risk girls and youth in the greater Charlotte area through programs in financial literacy, character-based leadership, digital literacy, and health and well-being. Shreya and Sahana established partnerships with community organizations to reach youth where they already are: in shelters, safe homes, rescue and rehabilitation facilities, schools, community centers and crisis centers. They currently work with homeless youth, trafficking survivors, refugees, domestic violence victims, foster children and teen moms. Guided by the belief that their past does not define an individual, Foundation For Girls focuses on providing access to opportunities, caring coaches and scaffolding for personal and professional success.
To date, Foundation For Girls has served more 1,000 youth through 267 workshops in personal finance, leadership, technology and digital literacy skills. With more than 40 dedicated volunteers and youth ambassadors, they have raised more than $75,000 – and they are just getting started. We spoke with Shreya, now 17, about her passion for empowering youth to make a difference, and her dreams for Foundation For Girls.
What inspired you to start Foundation For Girls?
Our parents are our inspiration, and their focus on giving us a strong foundation is where the name “Foundation For Girls” originated. At an early age, our parents encouraged us to expand our horizons by actively engaging in our broader community beyond our school, family and friends, and emphasized the importance of character and core values in realizing our fullest potential. Our parents began taking my sister and I to homeless shelters and crisis centers to see how we could get involved in the community. When we saw the need in a place like Charlotte, our hometown, we knew we had to do something more than just volunteering. That is when we began to think of the idea of Foundation For Girls.
In 2014, our paternal grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her last wish was that we help vulnerable girls, including those in India. We promised to fulfill that wish, and it gave us something to do to keep her memory alive. She directed her wish towards India, however, my sister and I knew that we should start first in our local community in Charlotte, where we were born and brought up, and then grow global. At that point, we decided to expand our work and, in December 2014, we became a 501(c)(3).
What have you learned through your experience starting Foundation For Girls?
There is a magic in giving that cannot be compared to anything else. When my sister and I started Foundation For Girls, we thought it would be a small venture. We never imagined that it would grow as fast and become as big as it has become in the past three years. I have realized that it is not easy to lead and run a social venture. Most importantly, it takes a team to succeed. It is all about the teamwork and collaboration.
This has been a tremendous learning experience and growth experience for me. I learned to be persistent, patient, and that I have to have a plan and be organized before I can expect that from anyone else. I have learned a lot from presenting to investors, large corporations, and philanthropists, managing partnerships, organizing workshops, and coordinating with the program leaders. Nothing is more fulfilling than knowing that my team and I are working to change the lives of at-risk youth in our community. Every day we are making an impact. While we are helping the at-risk youth, we are also gaining new perspectives on life. Above all, today, I have tremendous gratitude for what I have been blessed with, and I do not take things for granted.
What is your favorite memory from your work with Foundation For Girls?
I have many memories and rewarding experiences from my work with Foundation For Girls. Every Thursday from 4- 6 p.m., I go with my digital literacy program team to an after-school program for refugee children from more than 30 countries. It is great to see the children’s growth and development by the end of the six-month digital literacy curriculum. I never knew that teaching children and helping them grow both academically and personally would be such a rewarding experience.
My favorite memory is when, over the summer of 2017, I was able to teach a group of girls from Guatemala a beginner’s session of programming and coding in Spanish. When I realized that they could not understand the instruction in English, I quickly stepped in and shared with them that I know Spanish and I could help them. It was great to see the joy on their faces because they were not limited as they did not communicate in English and I was able to make learning possible for them.
What is your dream for Foundation For Girls in five years?
It will be great to see Foundation For Girls grow and expand beyond Charlotte. I want to take this work to other states. I have a goal to reach 2,600 girls and youth by 2020. Currently, I am working with the board of directors to plan the growth beyond 2020.
When I head to college, I will continue to expand our work. I have to raise money to support the expansion. I am also working on plans to make this a self-sustaining organization and I hope to continue to build partnerships and collaborations for expansion and greater community impact.
An offshoot project from Foundation For Girls, called HOURZ, is underway to connect these girls and youth to economic opportunities and jobs. I am currently seeking funding for this work and looking for philanthropic investments.
Why do you think it is important for others to get involved and make a difference intheir community?
The youth will define the future, and therefore, it is crucial for them to evaluate the needs of their communities and get involved. We can all make a difference, and no one is ever too young to start making a difference in their community.
We all hope and dream of a better future and for that, we are responsible and should take personal action. We are the change; we have to make a change in what we see is not right, we cannot leave it to someone else. When you give back to the community you are not only improving the lives of others, it is great for us as well as it is one of the most fulfilling experiences. Everything big starts small, and if more people get involved and start with the little things, we will see a change in our community, our country, our world, faster than we can imagine. We can all make a difference, whether big or small, if we come together to work toward a common goal.
Kristina Gatto
Kristina Gatto was inspired to give back from an early age, hosting lemonade stands as an elementary student to raise funds for organizations like The Veterans Home, Operation Gratitude, and Feed the Children. Later, the teen became a camp counselor with Family Promise of Bergen County, an organization dedicated to providing shelter and support to working families who become homeless.
Last year, Kristina was awarded the New Jersey state title by America’s National Teenage Scholarship Organization and has worked with one of their charitable partners, the Boys & Girls Club, to help kids in need get summer camp supplies. Through Kristina’s efforts to collect donations at local departments stores, enough toys, games, education materials, videos, sporting equipment, and snacks were gathered to stock the rooms of incoming campers. She has since done a second summer camp drive and Christmas drive.
“There are always those who will have more than us, but there are so many more that have less than us. It’s so important to give back and try to make a difference in someone else’s life,” Kristina said. “What you get [in return] will be greater than what they get. If everyone did something, the world would be a much better place.”
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Kristina? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer opportunities.
Kate Prager
Competitive swimmer Kate Prager combined her love of swimming with her passion for giving back by partnering with her local Boys & Girls Club and the West Cabarrus YMCA to offer water safety classes to opportunity youth. “The Boys & Girls Club selected groups of students that they felt would benefit the most from my class,” Kate said. “The YMCA provided the space to teach the lessons and allowed me to use their pool equipment.”
Kate’s swimming classes helped fulfill criteria for her Girl Scout Gold Award, which requires scouts to identify a community need and come up with a plan to address it. Due to the success of her program, the YMCA has referenced it in a grant proposal. “If approved, it could provide funding to the YMCA to provide Safety Around Water lessons to 100 kids in need,” Kate said.
For Kate, volunteering taught her important lessons about perseverance. “The most important thing I learned was not to give up on my goal,” Kate shared. “I experienced a few hurdles trying to get the project started. While I was frustrated at first, [those hurdles] ended up making me more driven.”
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Kate? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer opportunities.
Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell
Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell is the co-founder of The Jewell Jackson McCabe Emerging Leaders Institute. The organization helps women enhance their leadership skills through personal and professional learning courses and cultural experiences. Lynita is today’s Daily Point of Light, and she spoke with Points of Light about why it’s important for her to help other women reach their professional goals.
Describe your volunteer role.
I am a co-founder of The Jewell Jackson McCabe Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI), and I currently serve as the executive director. I facilitate several courses to help women and girls enhance their leadership skills. The courses include how to develop and execute workshops, keys to successful entrepreneurship, and effective cross-generational communication. I have served on the board of directors in various capacities during our 10-year history.
What inspired you to give back?
When I was a young lawyer, I searched for programs to help me become a strong leader and business woman. There were not many tailored to people in the 30 to 40-year age range. In speaking with other women in my age group, I realized that the problem reached across professions and industries. So three colleagues and I came together to found ELI in 2007. It has been an incredibly rewarding experience. The things I wanted to learn, I researched and taught myself, then developed trainings to teach others. We constantly revamp and update the material to stay current with business trends, which ensures our participants remain competitive in their respective industries. I love watching graduates go on to get promotions, new jobs, start businesses, get larger clients, and found their own nonprofits.
Why do you think it’s important for other people to volunteer?
We are the people we’ve been waiting for all of our lives. We want other people to come save us; we are equipped with the knowledge, resources, network, and drive to do it ourselves. But we must band together to get the greatest benefit of our efforts. Giving back to our communities is really giving back to ourselves.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Lynita? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer experieces.
Ella Kate Nichols
Andalusia, Alabama teen Ella Kate Nichols is the founder of the nonprofit, Bucket of Smiles. Her mission is to bring smiles to the face of every child fighting cancer. Ella Kate is today’s Daily Point of Light, and she spoke with Points of Light about her commitment to advocating for children with cancer and their families.
Describe your volunteer role.
I host donation drives for citizens in our community to get involved by donating hospital-approved activity items for our buckets. I have also created a Buckets of Smiles ambassador program. The ambassadors are sent buckets and they hold donation drives for the items that go inside them. There are currently Bucket Ambassadors in ten states.
I have personally delivered Buckets of Smiles [containers] to three hospitals totaling over 90 buckets. Our ambassadors have delivered over 100 buckets in the last 5 months. Buckets of Smiles has also donated much needed pajamas and underwear for the children in the childhood cancer and blood disorders units in the children’s hospitals here in Alabama, in addition to donating to Smile-a-Mile to help provide scholarships to camps for children with cancer.
Also, five years ago, I learned about the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. With Rally, 93 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to research for better treatments. I have personally raised over $15,000 for the Rally Foundation by hosting several coin drives at my school, co-hosting a benefit beauty pageant, and singing the National Anthem at a Major League Baseball game.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned through volunteering?
Through volunteering and through my non-profit, I have learned to be thankful every day, for everything, in every situation.
We should always be thankful for what we have been blessed with because it can change in an instant. Volunteering has also taught me that just a small gesture can bring a smile to someone’s face and make their burden just a little more bearable.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Ella Kate? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer opportunities.
Nursing Home Volunteers Bring Joy to Residents and Build Lasting Friendships
As a professional clown, Maryann Greco brings joy to people on a daily basis, but volunteering in a nursing home made her realize how important a simple conversation or game of Scrabble can be to another person. While making daily visits to the Allendale Nursing Home in New Jersey to see her mother, who suffers from dementia, Maryann that many of the residents did not receive any visitors – so she began to sit and talk with them. As just one person, she could not visit everyone, so in 2012 she started Growing Relationships and Making Memories (G.R.A.M.M) to recruit volunteers to match with seniors. Through one-on-one interaction, volunteers form meaningful relationships with seniors, bringing love and joy to their lives.
“When President George H.W. Bush created the Daily Point of Light Award, he had in mind an individual such as Maryann, who created an organization that positively impacts so many lives. Maryann, and the organization she founded and named G.R.A.M.M., proves that one person can make a difference,” said Bernard Milano, a Points of Light board member, who nominated Maryann.
We spoke with Maryann to learn more about G.R.A.M.M and how little acts of kindness can have big impact.
What is the G.R.A.M.M. Program?
Growing Relationships and Making Memories is an outreach program similar to Big Brothers Big Sisters. I get volunteers to visit isolated seniors who have no family or friends visiting them on a regular basis.
How has the G.R.A.M.M. program impacted your community?
Well, there are people who are lonely, who need to feel special again. They need to feel loved. They get to be 70, 80, 90 years old and they just have to have a relationship with someone. The volunteers help alleviate the sense of loneliness, and it helps increase the dignity and wellbeing of people. Plus, it’s a good feeling. You get a good feeling.
G.R.A.M.M has made more people aware of how important human contact is. You can be alone in a crowd and my program helps isolated seniors feel wanted again.
What inspired you to start G.R.A.M.M?
I have been a full-time professional clown for the last 38 years. G.R.A.M.M started when I wanted to give back in some way, but I did not want to work with sick children. I just knew that would break my heart. My mother is in a nursing home and I saw that many of the residents had no visitors and were very lonely. I put the G.R.A.M.M. program together and presented it to the nursing home, they accepted it, and the rest is history.
Tell us a little more about how G.R.A.M.M. works.
I have the volunteers come for eight weeks for one hour per week. By the end of the eight weeks, they have become so attached to the person they are paired with that they become friends and just continue. I have four people who have been doing it for years and come once a week on their own now.
When I got started, I put a package together as far as the do’s and don’ts for volunteers when they meet and greet a resident. I can tell which residents are lonely and which ones don’t have visitors. I check with them to see if they would like to have a visitor. For those who say yes, I pair them up with a volunteer. I usually put an ad in the newspaper and I get volunteers from that.
Can you share a few examples of how your volunteers make an impact?
I just finished with a volunteer from Ramapo College named Alexa. I introduced her to Claudia and Christine Burke, twin sisters who are both blind. Claudia plays the cello and Christine the flute. Alexa plays the cello, violin and viola. Alexa came for 20 hours, visiting Claudia and Christine and playing music with them. They loved it.
It is just the little things that make the seniors so happy. I had one gal, who used to be a neighbor. She works for the high school and they had boutonnieres and corsages left over from prom. She called me up and asked if we wanted them. I said yes! I brought all the boutonnieres and corsages to the nursing home and the seniors faces lit up, they were just so happy. Little things like that.
These are some of the stories that are so wonderful and warm my heart.
Why do you think it is important for others to get involved and make a difference in their community?
It’s a win-win situation. Not only do you make someone happy, but it makes you feel good too.
What advice do you have for people who want to help seniors in their community?
First, start visiting nursing homes and nursing facilities, and talk to the director of activities to find out if they would be interested in starting a program. They can also get in touch with me, and I can help them out.
If people want to support your work or connect with you, how can they do so?
The G.R.A.M.M. program has a Facebook page and a website. You can learn more about our work and it is the best way to contact me.
Makayla Harris
For the past seven years, Makayla Harris has volunteered with Love A Sea Turtle, a youth-led nonprofit based in Winterville, North Carolina. The organization raises awareness for marine and ocean conservation by engaging students in environmental stewardship through leadership development and providing nature-based programs for underserved youth.
Makayla is a member of Love A Sea Turtle’s Student Advisory Board and organizes and leads projects throughout the year, in addition to serving as a camp counselor and group leader during the summer.
“I have served because it is my passion, and I want to positively impact these kids’ lives.” Makayla shared. “Reaching out and leading youth in many first-time opportunities such as seeing and touching the ocean, hiking in nature, kayaking, or event riding a bike – I have seen the direct impact and positive response of my actions just through their participation in something new, different, and unfamiliar to them.”
After discovering that many of the kids she worked with were experiencing food insecurity, Makayla was motivated to create her own initiative three years ago, Holidays of Hope, which she leads in coordination with Love A Sea Turtle’s annual celebration and reflection event.
“During the [holidays], I plan and organize hundreds of gift and food donations for youth and their families,” Makayla said. “We play games, create art projects, and share a meal together. Each child receives a gift and families take home a box of food.”
Last year, Makayla was selected as a generationOn Kindness Ambassador by Points of Light and Hasbro as part of the Joy Maker Challange and received 200 toys to donate during Holidays of Hope.
“Underserved youth inclusivity, especially in environmental education and awareness, has been a focus of mine [throughout] high school,” Makayla said. “My goal is to help create change so youth from all demographics can be engaged in animal conservation.”
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Makayla? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer opportunities.
The Nepola Family
Since 2015, the Nepola Family of Pembroke Pines, Florida—dad Justin, mom Jackie, and their children Mia and Ava—have been active volunteers with HandsOn Broward. The family has served at numerous events, including; Broward Reads for the Record, the Florida Aids Walk, and during national days of service such as 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“[The Nepolas] started out as volunteers, but it became obvious early on that they were meant to be project leaders,” said Melissa Sutliff, director of youth engagement at HandsOn Broward. “Justin, Jackie, Mia, and Ava all work tirelessly when they participate in projects with us – whether they’re building gardens, distributing school supplies to families in need, reading to children, or packing meals.”
“We are inspired to give back because we know how fortunate we are and feel it is our responsibility to help those in need,” said Justin. “As parents we try to instill in our daughters a sense of appreciation for what they have and that nothing comes without work.”
Do you want to make a difference in your community like the Nepola Family? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer opportunities.
Sapna Desai
Three years ago, high school student Sapna Desai cofounded Silicon Valley Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching kids about STEM-related topics, with her younger brother Avi. On weekends, the organization offers free workshops at libraries in underserved communities in the Northern California area. Sapna is today’s Daily Point of Light honoree, and she talked with Points of Light about why she is committed to making learning fun and accessible for kids in need.
Describe your volunteer role.
I coordinate the [workshop] events with librarians, manage the registration process, and prepare all the necessary materials. When kids arrive for the workshop, I explain the lesson plan for the day and teach them how to build and program a robot. As Silicon Valley Kids started expanding, I reached out to other high school volunteers and trained them to also teach classes.
What inspired you to give back?
Growing up in Silicon Valley, I was always around math, science, and technology. After volunteering at my local library and with other organizations, I realized that there are many kids in my neighborhood who do not have the same access to resources or the opportunities to pursue STEM topics.
I had the idea to start a class of my own, that would teach science and technology in a fun way. My younger brother and I gathered donations of laptops and robot building kits, and started holding classes for children at libraries around the San Francisco Bay Area. The enthusiastic response from the community to our first few workshops inspired me to continue teaching and giving back.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned through your experience as a volunteer?
Every weekend I talk to kids and parents of diverse backgrounds. The kids go to different schools, speak different languages, and face different struggles at home. But for those two hours that they are in my class, they all share the same goal: to build a really cool robot.
The most important lesson I’ve learned through my volunteer experience is that the smallest things can make a big difference in someone else’s life. Week after week, I see kids excitedly return to class to learn something new. They tell me about a program they designed at school, or a pretend spaceship they built at home. It’s incredible how a simple robot made of Lego pieces and wires can inspire a ten-year-old to join the robotics club at school, take more challenging classes, and someday even become a scientist or an engineer.
Why do you think it’s important for other people to volunteer?
I think that it is important because it opens you up to new ways of thinking, and sparks a greater understanding of other people. It brings you face to face with the issues that there are in the community and what can be done to help. Volunteering is a way to be an active participant in the world around you. Everyone has their own unique skills and passions, and there is no better way to use them than to make a positive difference.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Sapna? Visit All For Good to learn more about local volunteer opportunites.
KaCey Venning
KaCey Venning is the co-founder and executive director of Helping to Empower Youth (HEY!). Her nonprofit is making a difference in the community by providing free programming for students related to STEAM and civic engagement. She also engages community members to serve through speaking engagements, consulting, and facilitating programming at schools, churches, and community/recreation centers. KaCey is today’s Daily Point of Light award honoree, and Points of Light spoke to her to learn more about her commitment to giving back.
What inspired you to give back?
I have always had a heart of service, [even] as a child, serving both in the community and my church. In 2005, I joined AmeriCorps and served two terms. Seeing young people ignored around issues that impact them ignited something in me. [I wanted] to find a way to involve them in the decision making – and not just as a service recipient.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned through your experience as a volunteer?
The most important lesson is that serving others ultimately serves us all. You can’t enter into a service opportunity thinking you have the answers – the answers come from the people. Specifically, I have learned that when you give students an opportunity to think outside of the box they have known their entire lives, they realize there is a whole world waiting for them to influence. It’s amazing to see the change in them.
Why do you think it’s important for other people to volunteer?
It allows you a different perspective on your own life! Volunteering requires you to step outside of yourself for a moment, to focus on a larger challenge that can be solved when we all give of ourselves a bit more.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like KaCey? Visit All For Good to find local volunteer opportunities.
