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The Real Transformers

Spring 2010 | Volume 33, Number 1 | Alumni

Classmates Unite to Help Haitians

SPU Alumni in Port-au-Prince

Corrigan and Shelley Clay, pictured with four of their children, hope to open a children’s home for earthquake orphans.

Some members of the Seattle Pacific University Class of 2000 didn’t get to reconnect at their 10-year reunion this January — but they’ve been in touch. They’re busy working together to improve the lives of the people of Haiti.

Shelley Monaghan Clay ’00 and Corrigan Clay ’00 are co-founders of the Apparent Project, a nonprofit organization that sponsors artisan training to help Haitian families produce a sustainable income. Since 2008, Port-au-Prince has been home to the Clays and their children. The earthquake means they’ve gotten involved in relief supply distribution, but their ministry’s focus remains the same.

“All the needs that were there before the earthquake, they’re just magnified now,” Shelley says. “We actually have a bigger outlet to sell our artisans’ crafts because people are interested right now.”

The Clays have found support from their classmates, who have reconnected with them via Facebook and donated funds for relief work online at www.apparentproject.org. Sarah Frutchey Woodward ’00 was inspired by the outpouring of support she saw on Facebook. “It was really touching, because it’s been 10 years since we were in school together, but there was still a sense of community,” she says. “We missed the class reunion because we were focused on raising money for Haiti.”

Sarah and her husband, Nate Woodward ’00, plan to take their support a step further: They’re organizing a team from their church in Elk Grove, California, to take supplies to the Clays in Haiti this June. “We’re going to have our reunion in Port-au-Prince,” says Sarah.

—Photo Courtesy of Shelley Clay

Related Response Articles

Read about other alumni who were affected by the earthquake in Earthquake Update: SPU Alumni in Haiti

See photos and follow 1992 alumnus Arron Swenson before and after the earthquake.

Spring 2010 My Response: Window on Haiti

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