Eliminating the Stigma of Mental Illness

Many years ago, Mary-Lindsay and Margaret Galvin decided they wanted to share their family story in the hopes it would reduce or eliminate the stigma associated with schizophrenia and mental illness for other families. They also wanted to give hope to those who have been traumatized by these brain disorders. After selecting Bob Kolker to be the journalist to bring their story to life, they never imagined their story would become a New York Times bestseller.. Robert Kolker is the author of Hidden Valley Road, a nonfiction instant #1 New York Times best-seller and selection of Oprah's Book Club that was named a Top Ten Book of the Year by the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and Slate; one of the year’s best by NPR, the Boston Globe, the New York Post, and Amazon; the #1 book of the year by People; and one of President Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2020. This profile has resulted in significant interest to transition their story into a documentary and mini-series which they hope will accelerate and deepen the conversation around mental illness enabling thousands more to benefit from our pain and experience coping with this reality.

While others have benefited from their story, sadly their unwell brothers and unaffected siblings have not. The family have determined the best way to support their surviving brothers (Donald, Matthew and, until he passed, Peter) is through the establishment of the Galvin Family Trust (GFT) which is a Special Needs Trust.

The intention of the GFT is to provide each affected brother with a higher quality of care and to eliminate the ongoing financial burden and instability the family has encountered over the years in seeking long term care.

To not violate their ongoing disability benefits ($600-700 a month SSDI which goes directly to the facility to cover room & board), the GFT will provide certain items and experiences enabling them to live a more meaningful and secure life for their remaining days.

We are seeking your financial support to endow the GFT to enable Donald and Matthew to benefit from the success of the book and any subsequent success associated with a mini-series or documentary about the Galvin Family. The funds will be used exclusively to improve the quality of life for our affected brothers. Any surviving funds that exist beyond their death will be donated to organizations dedicated to serving family caregivers of persons with serious mental illness

Lindsay recently accepted a role on the Board of the Henry Amador Center on Anosognosia and the Denver Mental Health Centers. We hope to harness the success of the family’s story to help others.