Handprint Ceremony at the New York International Auto Show Marks Launch
of Hyundai’s 14th 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 14th
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.
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