family gives $5 million
Gift aids psychosis study
BY STUART WOLPERT
UCLA Today
A UCLA center that focuses on the early detection of and preventive
intervention in schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses has
received a $5-million gift from the family of Garen K. and Sharalyn
King Staglin.
The Staglin Family Music Festival Center for the Assessment and
Prevention of Prodromal States is named for the Staglins’
annual festival, which has raised more than $22 million in nine
years for mental health charities and research.
“We get asked for charitable donations all the time, but
Shari and I had no doubt that this center is worthy of our support,”
said Garen Staglin, president and CEO of eONE Global, a worldwide
provider of transaction processing systems, software and professional
services and a director of three public companies. The Staglins
also own one of the largest vineyards held by a single family.
The Staglins became avid supporters of mental health research
and treatment after their son, Brandon, developed schizophrenia.
Brandon subsequently graduated with honors from Dartmouth, and is
currently working as a writer and marketing media designer for the
family vineyard.
Some two dozen faculty members in such fields as genetics, psychiatry
and brain imaging, are affiliated with the center, which hopes to
reduce the likelihood of initial psychotic episodes and decrease
the severity and frequency of psychotic illness in high-risk adolescents.
Patients are screened, enrolled in research studies and offered
free preventive treatment, with the cost underwritten by the Staglins.
“With early intervention, we hope to be able to prevent
progression of schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses,”
said Tyrone D. Cannon, the Staglin Family Professor of Psychology,
Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and center director.
Garen Staglin chairs the College Campaign Cabinet while Sharalyn
is a director of the UCLA Foundation and Board of Governors. “Shari
and I hope our gift will be an inspiration to others to support
many important projects in the UCLA College,” he said.
For more information on the center, call (310) 206-3466 or visit
www.college.ucla.edu/staglin.htm.
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