CHARLOTTE, N.C.  -- She’s a hardworking high school senior by day, and humanitarian by night. Now, even more people are recognizing what Shreya Mantha is doing to help out Charlotte’s girls. The 17-year-old founder of Foundation for Girls is a finalist for L’Oreal Paris’ Women of Worth. The philanthropic program derives from L’Oreal’s iconic tagline “Because you’re worth it.” 

“To be joining an extraordinary group of women across the country, I never thought it would happen,” said Mantha.

Thousands are nominated, but only 10 were selected to move forward in the voting process. Each volunteers their time selflessly in their communities.

Mantha explained, “[To me] a woman of worth is having a global platform, to advance equity and advance social change, nurture the leader in every girl.”

As part of being a finalist, Mantha receives $10,000 for the Foundation to further its mission to provide digital literacy, leadership, and health programming to at-risk girls. When asked what she’d do with the grand prize of an additional $25,000:  

“We would be able to take an additional 52 girls through our programming and give them access to caring people they need to get on the path to independence,” said Mantha.

You can vote for her once a day on the Women of Worth site. Mantha will have a special Twitter day on November 13, where each re-tweet and like will garner her an extra vote. Mantha will find out the results at the Women of Worth gala in New York City on December 5.