Helen and Malcolm Barrett
The Gift of a Lifetime

In March 1965, Helen and Malcolm Barrett made their first gift of $10 to The Menninger Clinic. It was a turbulent but transformative time. The Vietnam War was raging, the Gemini Space program was laying the groundwork for a future moon landing, and the civil rights movement was marching toward the successful passage of the Voting Rights Act.

As trends and history changed, the Barretts’ support for The Clinic remained constant year after year—for nearly four decades. Now their generosity has culminated in a legacy estate gift of $6.4 million, which will help to change the future of mental health at Menninger.

The Barretts were passionate about The Clinic’s efforts in patient care, research, and training. Malcolm was a World War II veteran and former prisoner of war. He attended Stanford University, where he met his wife Helen. The two graduated from law school together and established a home and successful careers near San Francisco.

As directed by the Barretts, their estate gift is not restricted in its purpose and will support a variety of top initiatives at Menninger—including the Roy and Walt Menninger Endowed Fund for Mental Health Research, which will provide seed funding to launch innovative studies and share discoveries on a national stage. Through their lifetime of giving and the gift of a lifetime, the Barretts will continue to transform lives at Menninger for years to come.