Helping change attitudes toward those with mental illness is one of the goals of the Staglin Music Festival for Mental Health, held in September; the other is to raise money to research the causes of mental illness, and help find ways to treat and even cure this devastating problem.

The festival has been a resounding success. In 12 years, Shari and Garen Staglin’s efforts have raised almost $32 million in contributions, including $3.8 million this year alone. And that’s without the auctions that are ubiquitous in the wine country.

The festival’s total was raised from 500 attendees who paid $500 each to attend a wine tasting and concert featuring Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson and his band, a smaller number who paid $3,000 to enjoy a dinner prepared by star Chef Suzanne Goin of Lucques Restaurant in West Hollywood, generous supporters and sponsors and grants from the National Institute for Mental Health and other organizations.

This year, one donor joined the $1 million club, Peter T. Paul, of Paul Financial Corporation. Jerry and Karen Callahan pledged to do the same.