Hyundai Launches 14th 'Hope on Wheels' Campaign

Fountain Valley-based and its non-profit organization, Hope On Wheels, is launching its 14th year fighting pediatric cancer, and by the end of 2012, Hope On Wheels will surpass $57 million in total donations to the cause, including more than $10 million toward childhood cancer research at CHOC Children’s in Orange.

Hyundai Motor America’s president and CEO John Krafcik said $14 of every Hyundai sale goes to Hope on Wheels. He announced that this year’s program will travel across the country to 85 children’s hospitals, awarding research grants aimed at funding innovative pediatric cancer research projects. During the tour, more than $3 million will be awarded in Hyundai Scholar research grants.

Each grant will be presented during a signature Hope On Wheels Handprint Ceremony, where children diagnosed with cancer will get to place their handprints in colorful paint on a 2012 Hyundai Tucson, the official vehicle of Hope On Wheels.

Why handprints? Because there's nothing more personal than a handprint -- and part of the Hope on Wheels mission 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.

"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 2011, Hope on Wheels donated the largest corporate gift in CHOC’s history, and the money is being used to fund groundbreaking pediatric cancer research, using the latest advances in genomic medicine to provide more effective, individualized treatment for children afflicted with this disease. The hospital recognized this gift by naming its cancer center of excellence the Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children’s.