Luke Pecos Memorial Fund
*UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who has generously donated. You have helped us go above and beyond our initial goal for donations to both Hoffman Hall and the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. We keep this fund open in memory of Luke and for anyone who would like to help those who are in need and struggled in the same way that Luke did in his life. Thank you.
We miss you and love you, Luke. Forever in our hearts.
Dear family and friends of Luke Pecos and the Pecos Family,
We laid our beloved son and brother, Luke, to rest on June 1. The outpouring of support, condolences, loving messages and stories of your memories of Luke have meant the world to our family. Nothing could have prepared us for this immense feeling of sorrow and loss, and we are grateful to all that have shared in our mourning and will continue to honor Luke’s memory. What has happened is beyond comprehension and we are all still in shock.
Several of you have reached out to ask how you can help or make a contribution in Luke’s memory. We have carefully considered what Luke would have wanted and also what we have long hoped for; we decided on a memorial fund with contributions going towards Hoffman Hall Sober Living Homes in Albuquerque, NM and The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation.
In the months prior to his death, Luke found a home, support and friendship at Hoffman Hall Sober Living. Hoffman Hall is a group of sober living homes in New Mexico designed to help those who are recovering from addiction. Through their wrap around services they aim to help individuals achieve balance. They will support people that arrive to the home with nothing by providing food, clothing, housing, help to get legal documents, medical and mental healthcare, benefits, job placement and development and more.
https://hoffmanhallsoberliving.com
The Brain & Behavior Research foundation is committed to alleviating the suffering caused by mental illness by awarding grants that will lead to advances and breakthroughs in scientific research. Every dollar donated for research is invested in research grants. The Foundation funds the most innovative ideas in neuroscience and psychiatry to better understand the causes and develop new ways to treat brain and behavior disorders. These foundation grants cover research on illnesses including:
-addiction
-attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
-anxiety
-autism
-bipolar disorder
-borderline personality disorder (BPD)
-depression
-eating disorders
-obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
-post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
-schizophrenia
Many of you who knew Luke were aware he suffered from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and addiction. In his youth he was also diagnosed with ADHD and OCD. His treatment was a lifelong battle. As his family and caregivers, we were often frustrated by the gross and neglectful lack of resources, support and adequate treatment available at the onset and throughout Luke’s illnesses.
Here are just a few statistics regarding Native American access to mental health care and treatment:
•Due to high levels of poverty, many Native Americans face economic barriers that prevent them from receiving treatment.
•Compared to whites, three times as many Native Americans lack health insurance, 33% compared to 11%. Approximately 57% of Native Americans rely on the Indian Health Service for care.
•Access to mental health services is severely limited by the rural, isolated location of many Native American communities. Additionally, access is limited because most clinics and hospitals of the Indian Health Service are located on reservations, yet the majority of Native Americans no longer reside on reservations.
We intend to split any contributions made to Luke’s Memorial Fund equally to Hoffman Hall and the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. We thank you so much for honoring and celebrating Luke’s memory by helping us raise awareness and support for others like Luke. We thank you for and donation and for sharing the link.
Thank you again for your support during this time.
We, as a family, appreciate the kindness you have extended to us.
The Pecos Family,
Sisters Liz and Justine
Dad and Mom, Tom and Pat
