The Healing Project is a one-of-a-kind program that aims to bring a small amount of peace and hope to families who have experienced the death of a family member. The Healing Project provides lodging at a private setting in Central Oregon for guests to get away from the stresses of their life, rediscover beauty in the world and most importantly, dedicate time to their loved one and their grief. The Healing Project not only offers guests time in a peaceful setting, but also provides resources and recommendations to help guests remember their loved one and facilitate processing of their grief.
What does a retreat look like?
Guests of The Healing Project will receive 3 nights lodging at a private residence in Sisters, Oregon. We have plans to purchase our own property, but for the time being we utilize several homes that are rented by TP Forever. We can accommodate nearly any desired dates for the trip (although holidays and popular travel dates may be more difficult) and can be flexible with the number of guests. We will provide recommended activities to help guests with their grief, but how guests spend their time during their stay is 100% up to them. Financial assistance is also available to help with trip expenses if needed (e.g., transportation, groceries, etc.). A representative with TP Forever will coordinate all trip details with guests.
Does The Healing Project work?
The Healing Project was inspired by the experience Tony’s family had at the Oregon Coast several weeks after he died. In fact, the trip was so impactful that Tony’s family continues the tradition of spending time together in a peaceful setting on the anniversary of Tony’s death, which makes that especially hard day a little more tolerable.
The experience provided by The Healing Project was not only helpful for Tony’s family, but it has helped more than 40 other families as well. All guests of The Healing Project have had very positive feedback regarding their experience.
“I have been feeling a lot lighter inside and more optimistic. I am left with the feeling that there is more good stuff out there for us. I think a lot of families that lose a partner can relate to the financial strain that the loss causes on top of everything else. We could never have done something so nice if it weren't for you. I really, really want to say thank you again. I felt revitalized by this, and the feeling has remained.”
-Wife grieving the loss of her husband who died in a car accident at 37 years old; she is now raising their three young daughters (ages 5-14) on her own
“It was especially nice to be able to focus on our grief as a family, which isn't something we have had a chance to do yet! The best part about the weekend was the camp fire, where we all told stories about Adreanna and remembered the good times, we toasted to her life and celebrated her.”
-Mother grieving the loss of her daughter who died from alcohol poisoning at 17 years old
“The trip was helpful for me. I found myself often thinking about how much Mark would have loved it there but that we never would have been there if he hadn’t died. It helped me to work on the conflicting feelings that I have of missing him but also still enjoying things without him here…It was incredibly beneficial to have the books and drawing paper/crayons that you provided. They are a great starting point for the kids in talking about their dad and their memories and feelings.”
-Wife grieving the loss of her husband who died from a brain aneurysm at 44 years old; she is now raising their three young children (ages 1-7) on her own
Who is eligible for The Healing Project?
The Healing Project is available to any guests who have experienced the death of a direct family member in the last 5 years. If guests require transportation to Central Oregon, they must be within 180 miles of Sisters, Oregon.
Can I nominate an individual or family for The Healing Project?
The application for The Healing Project should only be completed by individuals struggling with the loss of a loved one who would like to be considered for the program. Please do not complete the application on behalf of someone else. If you know someone who might benefit from The Healing Project, we encourage you to share program details and have them complete the application. You can select the ‘Share Healing Project’ button in order to email program details to others.
Applications will be reviewed by TP Forever and families selected based on the following criteria:
Preference given for a more recent loss
Preference given for loss of a spouse with kids under 18 OR loss of a child/sibling under 40 years old
Preference given based on financial need (i.e., ability to take similar trip on their own)
