Who We Are
Our story is rooted in the terrorist attack of September 11th, 2001
Trails of Purpose Founders Kyle and Kayla Arestivo are New Yorkers born and raised. Both of the Founders were greatly impacted by the evil events of September 11th, 2001; especially Kayla. Kayla’s father, William Lawrence Fallon Jr, was a 38 year old IT Manager in the Trading Dept of ESpeed Cantor Fitzgerald on the 103th Floor of the North Twin Tower.
In the early morning hours of September 11th 2001, the hijacked Flight 11 crashed into floors 93 to 99 of the North Tower (1 WTC) at 8:46 a.m. These terror attacks were coordinated by al-Qaeda, an Islamist extremist group, led by Osama Bin Laden. Kayla was 8 years old when her father went to work one day and never returned. With no funeral, Kayla had no goodbye, no closure. The years to come led to a fight against PTSD, bereavement, depression, anger, suicide attempts, and substance addiction.
As someone who greatly understood the grave impacts of terrorism and the effects of PTSD on a family, Kayla developed a passion for helping military members who were struggling with the same.
Founder Kyle, as a Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy Graduate (2015) entered his time in the United States Navy in 2015. Kyle saw the first-hand effects of the mental health stigma within the military culture. Kyle’s insights combined with his wife’s mental health education led to a strong calling to do something about it.
In spring 2019, Trails of Purpose was born
Trails of Purpose is a 501c3 located in one of the Nation's most densely military-populated areas, Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach, Virginia. Our mission is to support service members and their families in their fight to overcome the negative effects of trauma, transition, and trials that result from their service in the military. We do this by providing FREE equine-assisted therapies and mental health counseling. We operate as a Certified Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH int'l) Center.
As for our Founder- Kayla found her closure. Kayla, who experienced terrorism and it’s effects as a young child, now works to support service members heal from their fight in the war that started with her father’s death. Trails of Purpose is not just a nonprofit, it's not just a mental health care facility, it’s not just a farm. Trails of Purpose is a healing life journey that began in September of 2001.