Impact & Outcomes
Our Mission in Action
Pure Living Family Foundation provides respite, connection, and wellness resources for parents of children with autism and complex special needs. Through our retreats and programs, we witness measurable transformation in the lives of the families we serve.
Voices from Our Community
The following letters were written by retreat participants — parents who experienced firsthand the impact of our programs.
Men's Retreat — Letter from Cameron
"I was lucky enough to have my wife make me go to the Pure Living Family Men's Retreat. Honestly, I'd never sign myself up for something like this. I'd feel guilty for leaving my wife and three kids, especially one with non-speaking autism that requires around-the-clock-support. In the same breath, I know that I can't love my family to the fullest if I don't take the time for my own mental health. That's one reason why this retreat is so important.
People have no clue what it's like to parent a beautiful child with non-speaking autism, unless you've walked in the same shoes with similar experiences. Within minutes of walking in that house, I knew I was in good company. I knew they understood, and now we had a space to be together — talking, laughing (a lot), eating, playing, and learning — without the weight of worry and stress. As simple as that may sound, it was special.
We need moments like these. We need leaders like Shawn and the team at Pure Living Family, who truly understand our needs and provide opportunities for parents to reset. This allows us to come back to our families with even more love to give.
'Be the reason someone feels welcomed, seen, heard, valued, loved and supported.'"
— Cameron, Men's Retreat Participant
Dads Retreat — Letter from Ryan Goodwin
"After attending the Dads retreat this past weekend, I felt compelled to send a note of gratitude. After our son's diagnosis earlier this year, it's been easy to feel isolated as we deal with the reality of being special needs parents. We still love little Max just as much as before, but we still deal with difficult emotions that our friends and family just don't understand. Like the uncertainty. The sucker punch of guilt that comes from nowhere. The shame that I'm not doing all that I can do to support him. Or the envy we feel when we see a neuro-typical child engaging with their parents the way we long to engage with Max, especially if that includes hearing them say, 'I love you.'
We tend to bury these emotions down and stay focused on the things we can change while staying positive. Being able to connect with other dads that know exactly how it feels was incredible. I learned much more than I anticipated hearing from the wealth of knowledg e everyone brought. I felt so accepted I had to fight back tears on several occasions. I felt seen in a way that I had forgotten was so replenishing and important. I felt supported to hear other men sharing how their feelings matched mine. And I felt like I made some new friends that can be a safety net that I didn't have before.
I have to wipe away tears right now just to be able to write this email. It's a long way to say thank you. Thank you for believing in your vision enough to put on these events. Thank you for extending the invitation to attend. Thank you for showing up as your true, authentic self. And thank you for everything you did to make such a special event possible. There is no doubt it will reverberate positively for me as a dad to a special needs son, and the rest of our little family love that love him so much.
I hope to attend future events to potentially do what the other men that attended for me by sharing knowledge, laughter, and even a crying shoulder if it's needed. Stay awesome."
— Ryan Goodwin, Dads Retreat Participant
Men's Retreat — Letter from Jacob Knighton
"Without exaggerating I can honestly tell you that the men's retreat this past weekend was life changing. Being able to speak and share with others going through what I am, was the most validating experience. I felt recharged and ready to be a better partner and father from what I learned and experienced on the Pure Living Family men's retreat. My favorite part was the sauna/cold plunge. It forced me to try something new and sort of terrifying, but was inspiring and empowering. I will be sure to pass the word on and invite those I know to future events."
— Jacob Knighton, Men's Retreat Participant
Moms Retreat — "A Refreshing Weekend with Pure Living Family"
"I recently attended a retreat with Pure Living Family, designed specifically for autism moms, and it was a transformative experience. As special needs parents, the constant demands can leave us feeling drained and isolated. This retreat offered the perfect opportunity to step away and connect with other moms who truly understand our challenges.
Sharing stories, laughter, and even tears with women on the same journey brought a sense of belonging I didn't know I needed. The support and understanding created an atmosphere of acceptance and renewal. The weekend not only provided a much-needed break from caregiving but also reminded us of the importance of self-care.
The connections made will last far beyond the retreat, offering a continued source of encouragement and strength."
— Autism Moms Retreat Participant
PLF Moms Retreat (August 9–11) — Letter from Jacey Goodwin
"Dear Pure Family Living, I wanted to reach out to thank you and share with you my personal experience with the PLF Mom's Retreat that I attended the weekend of August 9–11. It was an extraordinary weekend. Admittedly, it's not the kind of thing I would normally do: spend a weekend away from my family to process my feelings with a group of strangers. But it was pure privilege to be counted among the women that attended, and experience all that the retreat had to offer.
From the surreal setting in Sundance to the surprise gifts that kept on showing up all weekend, to the wonderful food, every detail was meticulously and thoughtfully executed. But perhaps most impactful of all were the guided sound baths, grief circle, and safety in sharing our personal joys and struggles through mothering disability that will stay with me. Mindy, who led these profound moments of self-discovery and shared sisterhood, was uniquely skilled in her practice.
So thank you, from the bottom of my heart. And thanks to your generous donors who made this weekend possible. It was exactly what I never knew I needed. And I came home feeling renewed in my own motherhood and motivated in my work to make a space in this world for individuals like my son."
— + Jacey Goodwin, PLF Moms Retreat Participant
Moms Retreat at Sundance — "Cracked Open"
"'Cracked Open' is the best way I can describe how I felt after the weekend retreat hosted by Pure Living Family at Sundance. Without knowing entirely what I signed up for, I went there knowing that I'd at least have fun with a few friends I'd already made, and would likely make new friends! I knew we'd be doing a hike, some yoga, and a sound bath (although I wasn't sure what that was!). What I did NOT expect was the gentle invitation to open myself up to a deeper honesty; to share parts of myself I've never shared with anyone else...not even my incredible husband.
While our individual experiences with autism may differ (e.g. our children have varying degrees of support needs, we have different support systems and resources, and some of us may even have different opinions about treatment and therapy, etc.), we absolutely share a pattern of grief AND joy. The facilitation of the grief/joy circle was extraordinary and I wish Mindy could just follow me around to help walk me through all crises and emotions, but what she DID do was equip me with powerful tools I was able to bring home and implement.
I can't thank Shawn and Angela, the Pure Living Family board (especially Laura and Marissa), Mindy, and of course our beautiful and gracious hosts for an unforgettable weekend. I'm sure it goes without saying, sign me up for the next retreat!"
— Moms Retreat Participant, Sundance
Reach & Influence
Our growing community demonstrates the expanding reach and demand for our programs:
- Website: 4,718 visitors over the last 12 months
- YouTube: 156 subscribers