Music Festival 2003 - Ramsey Lewis

Highlights of the 9th Annual Music Festival for Mental Health

September 13, 2003

Under benevolent blue skies at the onset of harvest in the Napa Valley, more than 400 generous donors and friends came together at STAGLIN FAMILY VINEYARD to make the Ninth Annual Music Festival for Mental Health a major success.

Drummer Leon Joyce blazes as Ramsey Lewis and bassist Larry Gray look on.

The festival was conceived nine years ago as a celebration of life. "The generosity of so many individuals, corporations and volunteers has allowed us to provide substantial support to research and care," said Jeanne Robertson, member of the Music Festival board. "We are engaged in a struggle of major proportions to fight for the cures for mental illness which continue to affect more than 20 million Americans annually."

In continued pursuit of that goal, this year’s festival raised $1.92 million. With new $9.6 million in grants from the National Institutes of Mental Health, leveraged by Music Festival monies, the nine year total inspired by the Music Festival is over $22 million.

At a lull in the concert, Margrit Mondavi consults husband Bob.
(photo: Daniel D'Agostini)

"The total raised and leveraged this year qualifies the Music Festival as the highest grossing fund-raising event related to wine without an auction in the United States," reports Garen. With 100 percent of the expenses for the Festival underwritten by its sponsors, all proceeds go directly to scientific research. NARSAD (National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression) and several other research and treatment programs, including those at UCSF, Stanford University, UCLA, The Roskamp Institute, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, as well as Aldea, Inc. of Napa and Sonoma, have all received the Festival’s support.

"An event of this quality is especially effective at raising awareness and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness," said Shari. "Too many victims go untreated because they are afraid to come forward and seek help or are unaware of the treatments available," Garen added.

Dr. Snyder clarifies an issue.
(photo: Daniel D'Agostini)

The program for the Music Festival began with a Scientific Symposium at which Dr. Sol Snyder, Director of the Neuroscience Department at Johns Hopkins Medical School, provided a presentation on Drugs and the Brain, drawing insights from his book of the same name. Dr. Sam Barondes, director of the Center for Neurobiology and Psychiatry at UCSF, moderated. Dr. Barondes has just published a new book entitled Better than Prozac: Creating the Next Generation of Psychiatric Drugs.

Following the symposium, a reception was held in the Staglins’ new 24,000-square-foot underground wine caves, featuring fine wines from 50 ultra-premium wineries from the Napa and Sonoma Valleys and Washington State, accompanied by hors d’oeuvres by Chef Bob Hurley of Hurley’s Restaurant & Bar in Yountville, California. This private wine tasting has gained renown as one of the best in the nation, offering virtually all the rare Napa Valley cult wines.

Chefs Wayne Nish and wife Jill concoct a course.
(photo: Daniel D'Agostini)

Guests reassembled later in the afternoon for a performance by the legendary jazz ensemble The Ramsey Lewis Trio. Highlights included a high-energy drum solo and a spiritual medley dedicated to Napa Valley wine royalty, Robert and Margrit Mondavi, who were in attendance.

Rounding out the event was a four-course dinner under the stars prepared by Chef Wayne Nish of March Restaurant, New York. Volunteer sommeliers, led by Wine Director Michael Greenlee of Gotham Bar and Grill in New York, provided flawless wine service. Garen expressed the mood succinctly, "Great wines, great food and great music are a wonderful way to celebrate life and provide hope and support for those less fortunate who suffer from mental illness."

Hors d'oeuvres complete, Chef Bob Hurley relaxes with a reception guest.
(photo: Daniel D'Agostini)

The evening culminated with a group of guests offering $5,000 donations for each woman who was willing to jump into the Staglins' swimming pool. Having withstood a day of over 100 degree heat, 30 women immediately rushed from their tables, removing jewelry, shoes and eye glasses, and jumped into the pool. Some of the women who didn’t want to ruin their designer clothes stayed dry by donating $5,000 themselves. An additional $30,000 offer was anted up for Garen to jump, and he did. "It’s amazing what our supporters will do to demonstrate their commitment to this cause. I guess we’re lucky that the combination of the heat of the day, and intensity of their desire to make a difference, made a lot of fun for all," said Garen.

Learn more about 2008's upcoming Music Festival for Mental Health