Angela Covert: Finding Family with JustWorld
When Angela Covert first heard about JustWorld International in 2003, she was a young professional rider balancing teaching, training, and competing. Like many in the equestrian world, she often felt the pull to give back but couldn’t quite find the time. JustWorld offered a unique solution and opportunity.
“I loved the idea of being able to do what I was already doing—traveling, competing, coaching—and, at the same time, give something meaningful to kids who needed it most,” Angela recalls. “Jessica [Newman]’s vision from the start was different. She brought the equestrian community together in a way no one else had, and it gave us the chance to use our sport and our connections to make a real impact.”
That vision inspired Angela to jump on board, and she’s been part of the JustWorld family ever since. For her decades of work and commitment, she was selected as one of this year’s honorees.
Angela Covert’s first trip to Honduras cemented her commitment to JustWorld’s work helping children.
Eye-Opening Experiences
In JustWorld’s early years, Angela took a hands-on role, joining trips to Honduras, Ecuador, and Guatemala. The first trip to Honduras was life-changing.
“We visited a garbage dump where young kids worked to support their families by scavenging scrap metal instead of going to school, where they couldn’t afford books and uniforms anyway. It was really overwhelming,” Angela says. “That night, a few of us just sat in the hotel lobby and cried. It was overwhelming to see the reality these children lived in and to realize how far our support could go.”
Scenes from Angela Covert’s trips to Honduras and Guatemala.
In Guatemala, she helped launch JustWorld’s first medical clinic. “Meeting the doctor for the first time and knowing we were providing care not only for the kids in the program but for the whole community—that was huge,” she says. She and others hand-carried medical supplies to Guatemala in their suitcases for years. “Simple things like antibiotics or dressings could literally save lives,” she says. “We take those for granted.”
These experiences cemented Angela’s commitment. “Until that first trip, I felt good about donating and being involved. But seeing it firsthand—seeing how our dollars translated into real change—was completely different. It opened my eyes,” she says.
Angela Covert took nine trips to JustWorld projects to see the impact and connect with the children.
For Angela, the most powerful memories come back to the children. On her multiple trips to Guatemala, she watched the same kids grow and change. “To see their progress year after year, I loved that,” she says. “You can see these tangible benefits, that they can get an education and get out of poverty. To see from where it started to now is unbelieveable.”
Seeing the Impact
Even after becoming a parent, Angela has remained connected to JustWorld, especially through its Gala Committee. She and her husband, international course designer Guilherme Jorge, live in Wellington with their 9-year-old son, Lucas. Angela, who continues to train and sell horses and works with a number of riders, said being a mother is now her main priority, but she looks forward to one day taking Lucas with her on a JustWorld trip.
“What I’ve always told people is: If you ever wonder where the money is going, just go on a trip,” she says. “It’s one thing to know you’re helping; it’s another to stand there, meet the kids, and see the impact with your own eyes. That experience changes you.”
Angela also highlights how accessible making a difference can be: “I helped to fund a part-time doctor’s salary for a couple of years in Guatemala. People thought it sounded like this massive expense, but it really was less than a cup of coffee every day. And that doctor probably saved countless lives. It shows how far even small contributions can go.”
Reflecting on her 22 years with JustWorld, Angela says the organization has given her a new perspective. “As a 20-something, I was obsessed with my riding career and stuck in the bubble of the equestrian world,” she says. “JustWorld pulled me out of that bubble. It reminded me there’s a whole other world out there and that we can use our privilege to make it better.”
Angela Covert continues to support JustWorld decades after her initial involvement, attending the gala each year with her husband, Guilherme Jorge.
Being recognized as a gala honoree this year is deeply meaningful for Angela. “I know how many incredible people have been honored before me, so to be included is a huge honor,” she says. “I’m proud of everything JustWorld has accomplished and proud to have been part of it since the beginning. This recognition feels like the icing on the cake.”
She especially treasures the people she’s met along the way. “Over 22 years, I’ve met and worked with and become friends with the most incredible group of people. Horses brought us together, but we all share the common goal of helping to make these kids’ lives better. To see what Jessica and Maria [Newman] have built over 25 years—it’s inspiring. The impact they’ve had, and the community they’ve grown, is unbelievable.”
If you’re a friend or fan of Angela Covert and want to join her in supporting JustWorld’s mission to break the cycle of poverty, create a custom congratulatory ad or join us at the gala, January 22, 2026 in Wellington, Florida.
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JustWorld International
Established in 2003, JustWorld International was created to connect equestrians with a direct way to help fracture the cycle of poverty through education, healthcare, and nutrition programs for children around the world. Ambassadors from more than forty countries have since committed to “Ride for the Cause” and transform the lives of children through equestrian sport. Envisioning a more just world, the nonprofit organization cultivates strategic, project partnerships in a collaborative approach to impact the lives of nearly 10,000 children around the globe on a daily basis.
To donate, become an Ambassador, or learn more about JustWorld, please visitwww.justworldinternational.org or @justworldinternational on Facebook and Instagram.
JustWorld International is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the United States and tax-deductible donations are accepted in the United States. JustWorld International has no political or religious affiliation.
