Since 1998 Hyundai and its dealers have been committed to supporting the fight against childhood cancer. What began in 1998 as a local initiative supported by New England-area Hyundai dealers to raise funds for the Jimmy Fund at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has evolved into Hyundai Hope on Wheels, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which is supported nationwide by all of Hyundai's more than 800 dealers and Hyundai Motor America. At the end of 2010, Hyundai Hope on Wheels will have donated more than $23 million to children's hospitals nationwide to help kids fight cancer. Every time a new Hyundai vehicle is sold in the U.S., $5 is donated to Hope on Wheels.

The Hope on Wheels Tour is the united effort of Hyundai dealers across the country to raise awareness about childhood cancer and celebrate the lives of the courageous children battling the disease. In 2010, the Hope on Wheels Tour traveled to 42 children's hospitals across the country and donated more than $2 million to support further training and research for doctors involved in childhood cancer research. Hyundai Hope on Wheels designates the medical professionals supported by these donations as Hyundai Scholars.

The 2010 Tour also hosted Handprint Ceremonies for childhood cancer patients, both past and present, at the 42 children's hospitals receiving donations. The symbol of the Hope on Wheels Tour is a white Hyundai Santa Fe vehicle covered with colorful handprints representing childhood cancer patients from all over the country. The Handprint Ceremony celebrates the courage of childhood cancer patients by capturing their colorful handprints on the white Santa Fe; children attending the ceremony are asked to lend a hand and place their own handprints on the car to commemorate their battle with cancer.

Why handprints? Because there's nothing more personal than a handprint - and the goal of the Hope on Wheels Tour is to share the personal triumphs of each of these children with other childhood cancer patients and their families across the country. Whether it's completing a round of chemo, celebrating a beautiful new head of hair or receiving a clean bill of health, one childhood cancer patient's milestone can be another's symbol of hope.

This year, Hyundai and its dealers are expanding their commitment to battling childhood cancer with the "Hyundai Gives Hope on Wheels" September program. During the month of September - Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai dealers will raise national awareness about childhood cancer and donate $6.8 million to children's hospitals and other non-profit organizations across the country.

For more information visit www.hyundaihopeonwheels.com




 

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS TO SURPASS $57 MILLION IN TOTAL DONATIONS TO SUPPORT CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH BY YEAR-END 2012

 

Handprint Ceremony at the New York International Auto Show Marks Launch of Hyundai's 14^th Year in the Fight Against Pediatric Cancer and Introduces New National Youth Ambassador CJ George

 

NEW YORK ? April 5, 2012 ? Hyundai Motor America and its dealers announced today, at the New York International Auto Show, a commitment to break through a major milestone of $57 million in total donations to pediatric cancer research through their nonprofit foundation, Hyundai Hope On Wheels®.  This level of funding places Hyundai among the leading funders of pediatric cancer research in the nation. As part of its 14^th year in the fight against pediatric cancer, Hyundai's President and CEO John Krafcik announced the 2012 effort and named C.J. George, a 13-year-old South Florida native and cancer survivor, the 2012-2013 Hope On Wheels National Youth Ambassador.

 Hope On Wheels primarily provides research funds to non-profit children's hospitals across the U.S. for pediatric cancer and seeks to build public awareness about the importance of this cause. The program is funded by Hyundai and its U.S. dealers. With every new vehicle sold in the U.S., Hyundai customers join Hyundai and its dealers in funding important life-saving research. Planned activities for 2012 will include a national grant donation tour, nationwide 5K race series, online social media campaign and a partnership with the Childhood Cancer Congressional Caucus. For the third consecutive year, during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, Hope On Wheels will conduct a comprehensive campaign to raise greater awareness about pediatric cancer and the need to fund critical research to find a cure.

 "We see Hope On Wheels as a critical part of our mission at Hyundai," said John Krafcik, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "Pediatric cancer takes far too many young lives and impacts far too many families. We are proud to work with our Hyundai dealers to fund research to end this disease.  We congratulate each institution receiving our grants and commend them for the important work they are doing."

 In 2012, Hope On Wheels will donate $12 million to children's hospitals nationwide for pediatric cancer research through its signature Hyundai Scholar Grant and Hyundai Hope Grant awards.  Hyundai Scholar Grants, in the amount of $75,000 each, will be awarded to 41 principal investigators who are pursuing innovative research early in their careers. As part of its Hyundai Hope Grant program, Hope On Wheels will award 36 grants to children's hospitals across the country. This year's Hyundai Hope Grants will be increased from $100,000 to $250,000 and winners will be announced in September. 

 Each of the Hope On Wheels grants will be presented to winning institutions at a Handprint Ceremony, where children diagnosed with cancer will place their handprints in colorful paint on a new Hyundai Tucson, the official vehicle of the program, to commemorate their battles with cancer.  Every Handprint Ceremony celebrates the courageous lives of the children faced with cancer and brings our community of supporters together.  

 The first grant award for 2012 was presented to the New York-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. The previous grant winner received its award as part of the kick-off activities and Handprint Ceremony that took place at the New York International Auto Show. The grant recipient Dr. Julia Bender has been named a Hyundai Scholar.

 "Through research, we have made great strides in understanding pediatric cancer and treatments," said Dr. Julia Bender, New York-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. "However, there is so much we don't know about the late effects of treatment and we are researching ways to deliver care without any toxicity. I am proud to be a Hyundai Scholar and truly appreciate the resources Hyundai provides doctors like me to pursue my work to improve the lives of children." 

 As part of this year's program, Hope On Wheels' newly-named National Youth Ambassador, C.J. George, will travel the country to share his message of hope with children, families and communities at Hope On Wheels events. C.J. was diagnosed with Stage III Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma when he was just 9 years old, and after his courageous battle and treatment at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida, C.J. is now 13 years old and cancer-free.

 "Every 36 minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. Through research 80 percent of those cancers can be cured. But that's just not good enough," said Gary Micallef, Hyundai dealer-owner of Hyundai of Everett in Everett, WA and newly-elected Chairman of the Hyundai Hope On Wheels Board of Directors. "The Hyundai dealers across America proudly join in this fight.  This is one we must win for our children, our communities, and our future.  We are proud to be a part of such an important cause."

 Also this year, research work will continue from Hyundai's major investment in the Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children's Hospital in Orange County. The hospital received its largest corporate gift in its history from Hyundai for the purpose of understanding DNA in young cancer patients through genomic medicine research. 

 For more information about Hyundai Hope On Wheels, please visit  www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org.  

 HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide.

 HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS

Hyundai Hope On Wheels® is the united effort of Hyundai Motor America and its more than 800 dealers across the U.S. to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to celebrate the lives of children battling the disease. For 2012, Hyundai Hope On Wheels plans to surpass $57 million in total donations to childhood cancer research since the program began in 1998. Hyundai Hope On Wheels is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.