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FOR MORE INFORMATION ~ CONTACT:

 Rebecca Hoffman, Marketing Coordinator or Larry Oskin, President  l  PHN:  703-359-6000  l EML:  RHoffman@MktgSols.com

 Local Cosmetic Surgery Center Provides Hurricane Relief

 The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery adopts family of 29

Reston, Virginia  Two employees from The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery in Reston, Virginia, and Dr. Dima Ali of WellMedica left Friday, September 2, to drive to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with a truck full of supplies, clothing and medication for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

 Debbie Marinucci and Janet Setnor, along with Dr. Ali, are making the 18-hour drive with the items donated by staff at The Austin-Weston Center.  Marinucci’s immediate family of 29 people, including her mother, daughter and grandchild, was evacuated from their homes in New Orleans on Saturday, August 27 and Sunday, August 28.

 “I haven’t slept in three days,” Marinucci says.  “It’s just been awful.”  Fifteen members of Marinucci’s family evacuated to her niece’s four-bedroom house in Baton Rouge.  Everyone, from the youngest six-month-old baby to Marinucci’s 68-year-old mother, was left with next to nothing.

 One of Marinucci’s brothers and his son did not evacuate their home in Jefferson Parish, as far as Marinucci knew.  She was unable to contact her brother up until a night ago and hasn’t been able to since.  “We are afraid that even though his house was left standing, he might not have anything to go back to with all of the riots that are going on in Jefferson Parish,” Marinucci explains.

 The Austin-Weston Center is adopting the family by collecting $1,000 from their staff and by sending food, clothing, supplies and a backup generator that was also donated from the staff.  McKesson Specialty provided medication at cost to The Austin-Weston Center to give to the family – necessary medication, such as insulin, inhalers, heart medication and steroid breathing medication for the babies.  The Austin-Weston Center will continue to send food and donations to the family in the months to come as they struggle to recover.

 “Many of our patients and employees are asking what they can do to help,” says Phyllis Chorazy, Chief Operating Officer at The Austin-Weston Center.  “We are holding a Blood Drive with the Chesapeake Region American Red Cross on Saturday, September 10 from 9 AM to 1:30 PM.  We encourage everyone to come out and make a donation to the much-needed blood supply.”  The blood drive will be held at The Austin-Weston Center at 1825 Samuel Morse Drive in Reston, Virginia.  You can call 703-893-6168 or visit www.austin-weston.com to schedule your life-saving donation.  Registration is encouraged; however, walk-ins are welcome.

Source: Rebecca Hoffman