Making Music For Mental Health

Rutherford (CBS 5)  -- The Napa Valley is known as a place for great parties. It’s the perfect setting for a benefit to fund mental health.

Every September, one Napa Vineyard comes alive with the sound of music. Major performers like Roberta Flack lend their voices to help a worthy cause. The concert was part of the annual music festival for mental health that has been put on for the past 11 years.

"We have a family member who became ill with schizophrenia, and we were seeking an answer to how to cure that disease," says Shari Staglin, a founder of the event.

They created a day of openness and awareness about treating the disease. They not only share music, but also the taste of fine wines. One of the labels being poured is Stagliano, the family’s own wine. Proceeds go to mental health research.

The whole day of headliner entertainment, fine wines, and top-notch scientists talking about their research, is capped off with a five-course gourmet dinner for about 300 people.

UCSF’s director of the center for Neurology and psychiatry says that the Staglins’ Music Festival is like a day of seed planting.

"It really builds a community (for) the donors who come here,” says Dr. Samuel Barondes. “They in turn bring other monies and stimulate the growth of other people."

The Staglins have raised more than $28 million. Every cent of that is going to mental health research and charities. They underwrite all event costs, and do almost all of the work.

“We think this is one of the keys to leading a fulfilling life, is giving back, we really do,” says Sheri Staglin. “Our children believe that, too. Our whole family believes that. And that's one of the reasons that we do this.”

“There's no contribution too small to not make a difference,” Garen Staglin says. “(You) always get more than you give."

For unselfishly sharing their wealth, and using it to create more to help the mentally ill, this week’s Jefferson Award in the Bay Area goes to Garen and Shari Staglin of Rutherford.

By Barbara Rodgers

For more information on the Music Festival for Mental Health, see: www.staglinfamily.com.