Nonprofit Leader of GOCARE Inc. Receives Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award

Jeanette Perez Stevens of international nonprofit organization GOCARE Inc., was recently recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow at a Rotary Club of Ventura-East meeting.

GOCARE supports education in some of the most impoverished communities of Nicaragua. For the past 10 years, Stevens has been the Executive Director and Charitable Board Director of GOCARE. Through her work, she has been able to help educate over 4,000 students that are living in poverty. She is also an active member of the Managua Rotary Club in Nicaragua. She has recently helped her district with plans for a Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA), and plans to help with the upcoming district conference. Stevens was truly instrumental in keeping organization on track during this transitional year due to the loss of its founder, Jan Lindsay. Stevens has set an example for many by her contributions to her club, her district, to GOCARE and the many beneficiaries of its programs.

Individuals, who are honored with this award have met high professional and personal standards around their community set forth by Rotary founder Paul Harris. It is one of the most prestigious awards in Rotary. The foundation supports Humanitarian programs, including grants to fund district and club service projects.

“I feel so blessed and privileged to be honored with such a wonderful award,” expressed Stevens. “I’m overwhelmed with joy, and I’m lucky to continue Jan’s legacy by providing education to the children of Nicaragua. I would like to thank GOCARE for the last 10 years and Rotary Foundation. I look forward to many more.”

The symbolism in this recognition is to honor her for making a difference in her Rotary Club, community and in the lives of the less fortunate people in the world. By accepting this award, she will join a family of well over 950,000 Paul Harris Fellows worldwide. In addition to several members of her club, she will stand with notables such as Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Kofi Anann, Prince Charles, Indira Gandhi, Luciano Pavarotti, King Hussein of Jordan and Pope John Paul II.