Contact Info
Jared Brown: co-founder of Project 81 Inc: jared@project81.org
My name is Jared Brown and I am a 31 year old husband and father of a new baby girl. My occupation is in the Financial Insurance profession. I went into the United States Air Force when I was 18 years old and have never looked back. I have traveled all over the world to every continent and have had the pleasure to see the beauty of all humanity. I am excited for the things of this world that will effectively change mankind for the better. I feel like everyone has the responsibility to help others locally and globally! It needs to be a mindset that takes hold of your inner most being and does not allow you to just exist anymore, but yet gives you passion for something so much bigger than yourself! It is amazing that when we are doing a project in a third world country where everything is so uncomfortable, this is where I find life to make the most sense and true peace exists! Join the Project 81 Team and help us help the world!
Annie Brown: co-founder Project 81 Inc: annie@project81.org
I’ve always had a passion for helping others and those less fortunate than myself, I guess this is why I became a registered nurse. Upon graduating from college and starting my career as a nurse I became enthralled with the possibility of using my services and skills for non-profit work. I began helping at our local free clinic in Saint Petersburg, Florida donating my time as an RN weekly, serving food to the homeless every Thursday night and assisting with their fundraising. During this time I became extremely ill with a debilitating illness and had to undergo many medical treatments. I was able to experience firsthand how it felt to be the patient and I vowed when I became well I would do all I could to make an even greater difference in this world. Miraculously my illness went into remission after 2 years of treatment and simultaneously I had been asked to assist a team traveling to Haiti, in an effort to restock an orphanage. Haiti ignited a passion in me and I realized I had to do something to make a difference and therefore we founded Project 81. I believe life has a fragility to it and we must all try to live it to the fullest, therefore people working to make a difference inspires me and I hope our efforts will help to inspire others through Project 81.
Clay Nylund: co-founder Project 81 Inc: clay@project81.org
My name is Clay Nylund and I’m a 25 year old high school educator out of Tampa, Florida. I was born and raised in Montana where I attended college at the University of Montana. After graduation I moved to Florida to be closer to my sister Annie and her husband Jared. I believe that our future lies in the hands of our youth. Whether it is the youth of Tampa, the youth of Haiti, or elsewhere, every child needs direction, compassion and love. I believe that each of us not only has a responsibility to aid our brothers and sisters, but that we all have a longing and desire to do so. We mustn’t allow our culture to dictate what is important in this world. We are losing young people to the culture. We need to teach our young people to search inwardly for their significance, not the media. I believe that significance is often found through helping one’s fellow man and by impacting the world.
Sofie Maher: Project 81 Team Member: sofie@project81.org
Hey there! My name is Sofia Maher. I am a 19 yr old college student currently at University of South Florida in Tampa and soon to be transfering over to Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. I was born with a heart full of compassion and love, so meeting new people and being able to reach out to them with a simple gesture of even a smile or a kind word was something I was made to do. I got in touch with P81 through my youth pastor at the time. Jared and Annie came in to talk to a few youth adults about this country of Haiti. I had barely heard of it and was naive. When they told me the stories of people living on next to nothing of food yet the enduring souls of these people, my heart broke and I remember just crying there at that table. I knew I wanted to hop along on the next trip and see for myself how I could possibly make even the smallest difference. When I finally arrived in Haiti in September 2009 and saw for myself, with my own eyes, I fell in love with the country. What warms my heart every time I think of Haiti is the precious smiles of every little child and the HOPE that consumes the spirits of the Haitians. Despite what little they have, they maintain faith, hope and love. Being young, I questioned while I was down there, what could I possibly do to make such a difference? That question was answered while I held a small little Haitian girl in my arms as she fell asleep to me humming and stroking her back. LOVE! I believe that everything, every little action done out of love can make all the difference in the world. The smallest sacrifice can make the BIGGEST difference. P81 was started and continues to reach out to the country of Haiti in hope and love!
Mark Bergstrom: Project 81 Team Member: mark@project81.org
My name is Mark Bergstrom. I am twenty six years old and have lived in Montana my whole life. I was raised on a family farm in north central Montana. I graduated from the University of Montana in 2006. Clay Nylund was my college friend and roommate. Clay is the reason I became involved in Project 81. In September of 2009 I made my first trip to Haiti with Clay, Annie, and Jared. Haiti is not a place that I, like most people, thought I would ever visit. It was an overwhelming experience to say the least. The all-encompassing poverty in Haiti is unfathomable. After my first day in Haiti I knew my perception of almost everything was forever changed. I realized the inequities faced by the vast majority of people in the world. Only one in seven of us are lucky enough to live in a developed country. Many people are utterly unaware of the vast poverty that exists beyond the borders of the wealthy nations. Being given the opportunity to see this poverty and need, I now gladly carry the burden of helping to search out the means and resources needed to help the impoverished people of this world help themselves to a better existence. In doing so, I find more purpose and fulfillment in my life.