Bill White, Retired Intrepid President and CEO of Constellations Group, Unites Leading National Advocates to Benefit American Veterans on Oscars Weekend

Retired Intrepid President, Bill White of Constellations Group Connects the Stars of UCLA's Operation Mend and West Coast Customs to Provide Veterans with Urgent Reconstructive Surgery. End Quote

And that's what we're doing at Operation Mend. We've taken what we have and we've taken those who have the talent and the ability and the willingness to give of themselves. It melds very well together.

(1888PressRelease) February 24, 2012 - Los Angeles, CA - As limousines pull up to the red carpet at the Oscars, a star car of a different stripe will be created by Ryan Friedlinghaus and sold on this Sunday's episode of Inside West Coast Customs. The show airs on Discovery's Velocity at 9pm EST. In uniting West Coast Customs, UCLA'S Operation Mend and recent veterans, Bill White, retired Intrepid president and current CEO of Constellations Group, once again aligns the stars to support our men and women in uniform.

Thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have returned from active duty with severe facial injuries, requiring priceless series of life-changing surgeries. The expert plastic surgeons at UCLA's Operation Mend provide these procedures, free of cost to veterans. In support of Operation Mend, Bill White and Constellations Group successfully unite Iraq veterans, Marine Corporal Aaron Mankin and Army Specialist Joey Paulk, Operation Mend doctors, and the car enthusiasts at West Coast Customs.

Inspired by the bravery and sacrifice of our veterans, Ryan Friedlinghaus and his staff at West Coast Customs create a one of a kind custom car befitting the gratitude we owe our veterans, which will be auctioned off on TV for over $333,000 to benefit Operation Mend an ensure OM's mission can continue.

"Constellations Group is honored to have connected the stars to benefit Operation Mend," said Bill White, retired Intrepid President and current Chairman and CEO of Constellations Group. "Ryan is a great American Patriot and successful entrepreneur who loves his country and those who serve to protect and defend it. The miracles being performed at UCLA and Operation Mend deserve our full support as our most wounded troops receive the best care our nation can provide them there."

"Take a car, like Ryan is working on, and you just make it better," said Marine Corporal Aaron P. Mankin. "And that's what we're doing at Operation Mend. We've taken what we have and we've taken those who have the talent and the ability and the willingness to give of themselves. It melds very well together."

"The car and the money we were able to raise for Operation Mend thanks to Ryan and everyone at West Coast Customs really exceeded all of our expectations," said Army Specialist Joey Paulk. "Just like Operation Mend, Ryan and his team found an amazing way to show their support for all branches of our military. I can't thank them enough, this was truly amazing."

"It's WCC's way of saying thanks to the brave soldiers who put themselves in harm's way to preserve the American way of life," said Ryan Friedlinghaus, owner of West Coast Customs and TV personality. Ryan and the WCC did their due diligence and created a car that honors all branches of the military, exhibits their expert skills and cutting edge creativity and ultimately raised over $330,000 for Operation Mend.

"The Operation Mend Camaro represents how individuals and businesses can join forces to creatively support a common humanitarian mission," said Dr. David Feinberg, Associate Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences and President of the UCLA Health System. "Not only has the car raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund medical care for our wounded warriors, but by having the Camaro featured on Inside West Coast Customs and showcased at many events around the country, it has also helped spread the incredible story of our courageous men and women who proudly fought for our country."

ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS:

West Coast Customs
Owner Ryan Friedlinghaus and his shop have been doing exclusive custom builds for the MTV show Pimp my Ride, TLC's Street Customs, Street Customs Berlin and now on his new show on Velocity, Inside West Coast Customs. Ryan and his crew are world-renowned for their extreme vehicles, outrageous features and unique designs.

Constellations Group

Constellations Group, led by retired Intrepid president, Bill White, is a Manhattan based consulting firm, dedicated to bringing together public agencies and private individuals and corporations, to support a wide range of initiatives, including the support of our nation's military, veterans and their families. With decades of experience and relationships across all industries and platforms, Constellations Group offers a superior, agile, creative, and innovative service product to the market.

Operation Mend

Operation Mend combines the best of the military's resources with the skills of UCLA Health System for a comprehensive and collaborative approach to healing United States military personnel wounded and disfigured in Iraq and Afghanistan. In a partnership with Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), a leading burn and rehabilitation center in San Antonio, Texas, the UCLA Health System and V.A. Greater Los Angeles, Operation Mend, which started with facial reconstruction, has since expanded to optimize healing-body, mind, and spirit. To learn more about Operation Mend and watch featured videos of wounded warriors, please visit www.operationmend.ucla.edu.

UCLA Health System:

The UCLA Health System, which comprises the UCLA Hospital System and the UCLA Medical Group and its affiliates, has provided the best in health care and the most advanced treatment options to the people of Los Angeles and the world for more than half a century. UCLA's preeminence in health care - a strength that comes from the union of research, teaching and excellence in patient care - continues to be recognized nationally, internationally and in numerous forums. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA, Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, and UCLA Medical Center-Santa Monica (which includes the Los Angeles Orthopedic Hospital) deliver hospital care that is unparalleled in California. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is consistently ranked one of the top five hospitals in the nation, and the best in the Western United States, by U.S. News & World Report, and the UCLA Medical Group has been ranked among the best in Southern California for four successive years by the Integrated Healthcare Association. UCLA physicians and hospitals will continue to be world leaders in the full range of care, from maintaining the health of families to the diagnosis and treatment of complex illnesses.

CONTACT INFO:

For additional information, contact:
Violeta Prelvukaj
Constellations Group
1 Penn Plaza, Suite 3600
New York, NY 10119
212-786-7417
vp ( @ ) constellationsgroup dot com
http://constellationsgroup.com/
http://constellationsgroup.com/about_us_bw.html

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