Operation Mend, a UCLA Health program that helps heal the physical and mental wounds of war, has received a $50,000 gift from LINE-X Protective Coatings, a Huntsville, Alabama-based company with a longtime commitment to U.S. military veterans.
Dennis Weese, president of LINE-X, presented the gift on Jan. 14 in a ceremony at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center that included U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Octavio Sanchez, one of Operation Mend's first patients.
“As an Army veteran,” said Weese, “I am so honored to be in a position to give back to our military personnel and I have full confidence that this donation is going to an incredible organization that will use it with integrity, compassion, respect, teamwork and excellence towards the families they help.”
The gift included $32,000 in proceeds from a customized 2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS Coupe that LINE-X recently auctioned off for this purpose, and an additional $18,000 contribution from the company.
The donation is part of the $4.2 billion UCLA Centennial Campaign, which is scheduled to conclude in December 2019 during UCLA’s 100th anniversary year.
LINE-X is a global leader in high-performance protective coatings for commercial, industrial, agricultural, military and custom applications.
UCLA Operation Mend was established as a groundbreaking partnership among UCLA Health, the United States military and the Department of Veterans Affairs to help heal the wounds of war. Operation Mend provides advanced surgical and medical treatment, as well as comprehensive psychological-health support for service members, veterans and their families at no cost.
