WHO WE ARE

In 2014, Erin (Heidi's eldest daughter), Josh (Erin's husband), and their children spent significant time visiting and eventually living in Haiti, working with organizations to support schools and orphanages. In 2018, Nick (Heidi's youngest son) joined in their work and collectively decided to start a nonprofit with the mission of building schools and hospitals. 

This work was motivated by a desire to bring hope to the communities they were working in by addressing the tangible needs of day-to-day life. Fundraising began immediately, and Cling partnered with the Good Samaritan Haitian Alliance Church (GSHAC) in Georgia. Through this partnership, a groundbreaking for a trade school in Port-au-Prince, Haiti took place in February 2020. While construction faced significant delays due to COVID-19 and political turmoil in Haiti, the first phase was completed and classes began in early 2023. 

In the school's first year, there were 200 students enrolled and despite ongoing violence in Haiti students continue to attend the trade school and further their education. Once the violence subsides the plan remains to eventually expand the school to over 600 students annually as well as build a hospital next to the school, on land that has already been acquired. 

During the multiple visits to Haiti, members of Cling visited hillside communities displaced by the 2010 earthquake and seeing their need for clean water considered ways to provide support. Initially Cling began providing resources for weekly water trucks but has since purchased a truck and currently delivers consistent clean water to six communities and date has provided over 2 million gallons of clean water. In early 2023, Cling traveled with GSHAC to the Dominican Republic to meet with community leaders and assess needs. It was determined that a trade school and hospital would be deeply beneficial and valuable, specifically in the bateyes. The bateyes are rural communities built around sugar mills and those working in the bateyes are poorly paid. There are over 400 bateyes in the Dominican Republic and after much consideration, the bateyes in the north of San Pedro de Macoris were identified as the starting point. 

In December 2023, ground broke on a trade school in Batey Margarita, and soon after land was purchased for a hospital in the nearby area of Batey Haiti Mejia. The school construction in Batey Margarita is complete and classes are set to begin in January 2025. In June 2024, a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the hospital in Batey Haiti Mejia was held and once all permits are secured construction will officially be underway.