[1] The project was developed by Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center board member and philanthropist Ronald A. Katz, who was moved to develop Operation Mend after he saw a story about U.S. Marine Aaron Mankin who experienced disfiguring injuries after a road-side bomb ripped through their vehicle on a convoy in Iraq.
[3] Operation Mend relies on philanthropic donations from business members, community and public donors to care for military patients.
It is approximately $500,000 for a wounded warrior to receive a patient evaluation, plastic and reconstructive surgeries, transportation, housing for multiple treatments and other services needed to provide care.
Auction participants Tom Abrams of Reliable Carriers and Ray Claridge of Cinema Vehicle Services each added a $10,000 donation.
[5] The Operation Mend Camaro served as the grand marshal car in New York City's Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11, 2011.