Years ago, driven by a powerful desire to lessen the stigma associated with schizophrenia and mental illness, Mary-Lindsay and Margaret Galvin embarked on a journey to share their family’s deeply personal story. Their hope was to offer solace and encouragement to families grappling with the trauma of these brain disorders. When they chose Robert Kolker to help articulate their experiences, they could not have foreseen the profound impact their story would have, culminating in a #1 New York Times bestseller, Hidden Valley Road.
Robert Kolker’s Hidden Valley Road resonated deeply with readers, achieving instant bestseller status and earning accolades as a top book of the year from numerous prestigious publications, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and People magazine, and even being recognized as one of President Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2020. The widespread acclaim for Hidden Valley Road has sparked significant interest in adapting the Galvin Family’s narrative into a documentary and mini-series. The family hopes this expanded reach will further amplify the vital conversation around mental illness, allowing their painful experiences to benefit countless others navigating similar realities.
While the Galvin family’s story has touched and aided many, the brothers at the heart of their journey, those living with mental illness, have not directly benefited. To address this, the family established the Galvin Family Trust (GFT), a Special Needs Trust, dedicated to supporting their surviving brothers, Matthew, and previously, Donald and Peter.
The core mission of the GFT is to enhance the quality of care for each brother and alleviate the persistent financial strain the family has endured in securing long-term care. Recognizing the importance of preserving their brothers’ disability benefits, which contribute to their basic care, the GFT aims to provide supplementary resources. These resources will enable Matthew to experience a more fulfilling and secure life, offering items and experiences that go beyond basic needs for his remaining years.
The Galvin family is actively seeking financial contributions to endow the GFT, ensuring Matthew directly benefits from the success of Hidden Valley Road and any future adaptations. Funds will be exclusively used to enrich the lives of their affected brothers. Any remaining funds after their passing will be thoughtfully donated to organizations committed to supporting family caregivers of individuals with serious mental illnesses.
Continuing their commitment to advocacy, Lindsay Galvin has recently joined the Board of the Henry Amador Center on Anosognosia and the Denver Mental Health Centers. The Galvin family remains dedicated to leveraging the reach of their story to foster broader understanding and support for mental health initiatives, striving to help others navigate the challenges they have faced.
