Hyundai Hope on Wheels Launches September Initiatve Dedicated to Childhood Cancer Awareness

2010.10.17 21:35:33 No. 15925

Hyundai Hope on Wheels Commemorates National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Announces More Than $6 Million in New Grants to Fight Childhood Cancer

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA – September 2, 2010 – Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a partnership of Hyundai dealers across the U.S. and Hyundai Motor America, today marked the beginning of National Childhood Cancer Awareness month with a press conference to launch a new nationwide initiative to support the fight against childhood cancer and announce the donation of $6.8 million in “Hope Grants.” Hyundai executives, leading pediatric oncologists, families with children impacted by cancer, Hyundai dealers and elected officials gathered at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. to unveil the list of 68 hospitals and non-profit organizations that will each receive a $100,000 Hope Grant. The grants will be used to fund direct research projects and support meaningful initiatives undertaken by doctors, nurses, social workers, child life specialists and other professionals who work with children with cancer.

“While we’ve made progress over the last few decades and now have an 85 percent cure rate, cancer still takes more lives than any other childhood disease,” said John Krafcik, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. “This September, in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Hyundai will shine a nationwide spotlight on this cause and provide more than $6 million in grants for pediatric cancer research and support programs. We love taking on big challenges at Hyundai, and we can think of no more worthy challenge than finding a cure for all forms of pediatric cancer.”

“For the last 12 years Hope on Wheels has supported the fight against childhood cancer in partnership with Hyundai dealers, Hyundai Motor America and others,” said Oscar Leeser, Hyundai dealer Principal, Hyundai of El Paso. “The more people learn about the toll this disease takes on children and families, the more they want to help fight it, which is why we’ve dedicated this September to raising awareness about childhood cancer. On behalf of the more than 800 Hyundai dealers across the U.S., we’re proud to continue to fund new research projects and support organizations that help kids fight cancer.”

Throughout the month of September, Hope on Wheels will visit each Hope Grant recipient to present the donations and hear from the children, families, doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers, child life specialists, counselors and other professionals that are fighting childhood cancer. By the end of this year, Hope on Wheels will have awarded more than $23 million dollars to children’s hospitals and non-profit organizations across the U.S. to support the fight against childhood cancer.

The complete list of Hope Grant recipients and more information on Hyundai Hope on Wheels is available at www.hyundaihopeonwheels.org. Find Hope on Wheels on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @hopeonwheels.

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, 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 more than 800 Hyundai dealers across the U.S. to raise awareness about childhood cancer and celebrate the lives of children battling the disease. By the end of 2010, Hope on Wheels will have awarded more than $23 million dollars to children’s hospitals and non-profit organizations across the U.S. to support the fight against childhood cancer.

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About Hyundai September Initiatve

This September … hope is in the air.

Since 1998 Hyundai and its dealers have been committed to helping kids fight cancer. During September - National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - Hyundai invites you to join our fight against childhood cancer.

Did you know that childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children 1 to 14 years of age, taking the lives of more children each year than asthma, HIV/AIDS or diabetes? Every day more than 40 children, the equivalent of an entire school classroom, are diagnosed with cancer, which adds up to almost 15,000 new cases of childhood cancer diagnosed each year.

Thanks to advances in research and treatment, 85 percent of childhood cancers are successfully treated. That's why Hyundai and its dealers donate to childhood cancer research through their Hope on Wheels program every time a new Hyundai is sold in the U.S. By the end of this year, Hyundai Hope on Wheels will have donated more than $23 million dollars to support childhood cancer research at children’s hospitals across the country.

During this month Hyundai Motor America and its dealers will also donate $6.8 million to Hope on Wheels, which will distribute the funds in the form of “Hope Grants” in the amount of $100,000 each to hospitals and other nonprofit organizations around the country that conduct childhood cancer research and/or provide support to children with cancer. We will award 68 of these Hope Grants during the month of September.

Hope on Wheels will launch “Hyundai Gives Hope on Wheels” in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, September 2. Following the launch we will embark on a national tour to award the grants to each of the 68 Hope Grant recipients at special award ceremony events throughout the remainder of the month. We will finish in Los Angeles, California with a final celebration the first weekend of October.

It is our hope that our ongoing work with Hope on Wheels and our efforts during the month of September will continue to help raise greater awareness about childhood cancer and support the hospitals and organizations that are helping children and families fight it.