Starting a “new adventure,” Santa Clarita Valley resident and nonprofit leader Jane Bettencourt-Soto is being recognized by local charity organizations before she moves to Nevada with her husband.

“I have an amazing husband, who recently retired after 40 years with the same company,” Bettencourt-Soto said. “It’s time for us to explore other things and have a great time.”

Hailing from Hawthorne, the current Saugus resident worked in the corporate world as a senior logistics planner before being diagnosed with with soft tissue rheumatism.

“Chronic pain and fatigue caused me to stop working,” she said. “Walking away was hard. We went from two incomes to one, relocated to Santa Clarita for the excellent schools, and I never worked a corporate job again.”

Bettencourt-Soto had picked up volunteering at an early age, but she learned more about the nonprofit world when she began attending a women’s group, Mes Amies, hosted by the Betty Ferguson Foundation.

She began to learn more about local charities as she began to work alongside with Judy Cox and Marjanne Priest, co-founders of the foundation.

“Jane was an integral part of the Betty Ferguson Foundation for many years,” Priest said. “Her leadership skills, inspiration, dedication and enthusiasm were key to the success of our organization.”

Bettencourt-Soto was able to learn and develop skills from working in the organization and rise from volunteer director to leadership team to executive board member and, finally, executive director until the group dissolved in 2011.

“I am most proud of what I learned there, of the knowledge and tools I was given to better help others,” she said. “If it wasn’t for what I learned at the Betty Ferguson Foundation, I wouldn’t have been able to assist other nonprofits.”

During her time in Santa Clarita, Bettencourt-Soto has lent a hand to many organizations such as the Child and Family Center, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and more.

Though Bettencourt-Soto and her husband will be leaving for Nevada in May, the couple will return to the Santa Clarita Valley and visit often to attend the many local charity and social events.

“I want to express to the community how grateful I am that my children were raised here, that I was exposed to some amazing organizations and that I was always greeted with love,” she said. “We’ll see you soon at our favorite events for some hugs.”

The above information was provided to KHTS AM-1220 in a news release.