Our Founder

Lea Manningham

Lea Manningham was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1977. While in middle school, she played baseball, basketball, and track. In the spring of 1993, at 16 years old, she became a teen mom. She also was in a domestic violence relationship and endured homelessness. However, Lea did not allow these challenges to hinder her from becoming a phenomenal mother and leader. She continued her education and received a degree in theology from Warner University. In 2004, seeking better opportunities as a businesswoman, Lea Manningham and her two children moved to Tampa, Florida. She had a dream and was ready for a change. She became the jack of all trades, working as an assistant manager at a furniture store, a law firm, a customer service representative, a bill collector, and a community coordinator. Lea discovered her passion while mentoring the young girls in her community and decided to pivot in her career.

Lea worked with hundreds of girls throughout Florida for three and a half years after establishing GIRLS OF THE WORLD INC. She helped her first mentee, Ikeisha Freeny, achieve three long-term goals: receiving her high school diploma, getting a job, and enrolling in Paul Mitchell Cosmetology School within three months of being released from jail. After seeing how her story changed lives in Pasco County, she wanted to spread that inspiration to the inner city she grew up in. In 2013, Lea moved back to her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. She started her program in the inner city at the Glenville Recreation Center, which she attended when she was younger. Since her return to Tampa, Florida, in 2015, Lea has fiercely expanded her outreach and driven our organization to new heights. She actively serves as a local Chamber of Commerce board member to advocate for our girls and promote their development. She has also received several awards and recognitions throughout her career, such as the 2022 Young Alumni Award, the 2024 Tampa Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Queen of Hearts Community Award, Kiwanis Club of South Shore as the Distinguished Service Community Leader Award, and more for her dedication to the community and empowering the next generation of young women.

Our Board Members

Leticia Feregrino

Leticia (Letty), a longtime resident of the SouthShore area, has 8+ years non-profit management and fundraising experience. Letty holds a BS in Criminal Justice and is currently employed with HCPS as a middle school teacher. She joined our board because of her deep belief in our mission of empowering young girls. In her free time, Letty enjoys reading, kayaking, competing in virtual runs, and spending time with family.

Pamela Friedler

Pamela is a proud Sun City resident, business owner, and board member for GOTW Inc. and the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. After successfully building, scaling, and selling a precision manufacturing firm alongside her husband in Rochester, New York, Pamela transitioned into a retirement focused on community impact.Her dedication to Girls of the World is deeply personal. Having navigated the challenges of being a single mother for eight years, Pamela experienced firsthand the vital impact of community support during times of need. Now, she focuses her time and leadership on giving back to the types of organizations that once uplifted her. When she isn't serving her community, Pamela is a devoted mother of three, grandmother of six, and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her first great-grandchild.

Sylvia Bradshaw

Sylvia graduated Cum Laude from Governors State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education. Her background in education and experience as a wife and mother have shaped her passion for nurturing confidence, encouraging growth, and helping young people recognize their potential. Sylvia is passionate about mentoring young women, building community partnerships, coordinating volunteers, and creating opportunities for girls to grow and thrive. She believes every girl deserves someone who believes in her, encourages her, and reminds her that her dreams are within reach. As Site Coordinator and Board Member, she is honored to serve alongside a dedicated team committed to making a lasting difference in the lives of young women.

Toni Mendoza

Toni was born and raised in New York City and holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science from Queens College. She is a New York State certified teacher and licensed mental health counselor. Before transitioning to education, Toni spent 26 years on Wall Street, rising to Vice President of International Audit for a major bank. She later taught high school English in the New York City Public School system before becoming a mental health counselor. Toni also co-founded and served as Executive Director of Side Street Kids, Inc., a nonprofit providing mentorship and a safe space for children ages 5–18 in the South Bronx. Today, she serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of GOTW Inc. and provides supervision to mental health counselors in the NYC Public School system.