Hyundai Hope On Wheels To Award 40 Research Grants During Nationwide Tour In Honor Of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Hope On Wheels®, a nonprofit organization supported by Hyundai Motor America and its more than 830 dealers, today launched its annual campaign in honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Throughout the month of September, Hope On Wheels will award 40 research grants to children's hospitals across the country, adding $8.5 million in critical funds to the field of pediatric cancer research. Since joining the fight against pediatric cancer in 1998, Hyundai has funded over 840 research projects totaling more than $130 million.

"While great strides have been made in the fight against pediatric cancer over the last 19 years, pediatric cancer sadly remains the leading disease-related cause of death for children in the U.S.," said Jerry Flannery, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "It is a terrible disease that impacts far too many kids each year and robs them of their youth. As part of our mission at Hyundai to be a better company, we remain committed to bringing hope to families faced with this disease and to helping close the gap in funding for critical cancer research."

Beginning today, Hope On Wheels will travel the country visiting children's hospitals to present research grants and to honor the brave children battling cancer. As part of these visits, Hope On Wheels will host its signature Handprint Ceremony. During each ceremony, local children battling cancer will dip their hands in paint and place their handprints on a white 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. Their colorful handprints on the official Hope Vehicle represent their individual and collective journeys, hopes and dreams. Hope Vehicles travel across the country to commemorate these children and their battles with cancer and to spread hope.

"September is a special time for all of us at Hyundai because it's National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It's a time when we honor the courageous children battling cancer while also funding the doctors and researchers that are working tirelessly to provide care and develop new treatments," said Scott Fink, chairman, Hyundai Hope On Wheels Board of Directors. "Throughout the month, we will share stories of young cancer fighters as part of our 'Every Handprint Tells A Story' campaign and we encourage the public to share these stories and join our fight."

In addition to its nationwide tour, Hope On Wheels is kicking-off a variety of initiatives aimed at raising awareness and additional research funds for pediatric cancer during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Details can be found below or by visiting HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org.

Hyundai Hope Scholar and Young Investigator Research Grants

Hyundai Hope On Wheels offers four different types of research grants for pediatric cancer. Earlier this year, the organization announced twenty-five (25) winners for its Hyundai Impact Award.  During the month of September, the organization will award fifteen (15) Young Investigator Grants ($150,000 each) and twenty-five (25) Hope Scholar Grants ($250,000 each). These September grants totaling $8.5 million will fund peer-reviewed U.S.-based research projects led by pediatric oncologists at Children's Oncology Group institutions. Each grant is funded for two years, and is focused on developing novel therapeutic approaches or translational research for pediatric cancer. A list of the 2017 Hyundai Hope Scholar and Young Investigator grant-winning institutions is attached.

Every Handprint Tells A Story Campaign and Website Experience

In effort to increase public awareness about the importance of the cause, Hope On Wheels is hosting its annual 'Every Handprint Tells A Story' campaign. The organization will donate one (1) or more pediatric cancer research grants every day during the month of September. Each grant will be presented at the children's hospital along with a Handprint Ceremony. This campaign theme is designed to bring awareness to the month of September as a national event and to recognize the many hands that help in the fight against pediatric cancer. From the child cancer fighter to the parents, family members, doctors, caregivers, researchers, advocates, and supporters, there are many hands in the fight and every handprint tells a story of hope.

To help give a hand, the public is invited to visit a unique Hope On Wheels website experience at HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org/September. While on the website, visitors can view and share stories of children battling cancer, view a map showing grant winning hospitals, read research summaries from doctors, and participate in an innovative digital handprint wall. Website visitors can also add their digital handprint to the Virtual Wall of Hope, change their Facebook profile photo, or post/share message to their own social media community. Hyundai Hope On Wheels will donate $1 for every virtual handprint added from September 1^st through October 1^st, to a children's hospital from among 2017 Hope On Wheels grant winners. The website will also include videos of the grant ceremonies of each grant winner during the month.

Additionally, Hope On Wheels has developed a special message that will air on over 14,000 movie theatre screens across the U.S. throughout the month of September. This along with other social media activities on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, are all designed to increase public understanding about the importance of the fight against pediatric cancer. Every 36 minutes, a child in the U.S. is diagnosed with pediatric cancer. Sadly, one in five kids won't survive the disease. Working together through research, we can ensure no child ever hears the words, 'you have cancer.'

Hyundai DC Days

Each year during September, Hope On Wheels gathers in Washington, D.C. with elected officials, advocates and supporters, doctors and researchers and child cancer survivors with the goal of increasing awareness about the importance of pediatric cancer research. This year, Hyundai DC Days is taking place on September 13^th and 14^th. Activities will include a Hill Welcome Reception, National Press Conference, and a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony.

Regional Celebration of Life Galas

Celebrating the lives and victories of brave children fighting cancer across the nation, Hyundai Hope On Wheels will host a series of gala dinner and award events in several cities. Grant winning doctors from throughout the region will attend and be presented their research grant awards. The events will be hosted by actor Jennifer Freeman, and entertainment will be provided by recording artist Luke Wade. Events will be held in San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

Run for Hope 5K & 10K and Benefit Concert

On September 31^st and October 1^st, Hope On Wheels will host its 7^th Annual Superheroes Run for Hope 5K & 10K in Fountain Valley, Calif. Proceeds from the event will benefit pediatric cancer research at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children's). On September 31^st, Hyundai will host a Night Under the Stars Benefit Concert. The special one-night event will feature food, fun for the entire family and a special performance by Luke Wade. Event registration information and race registration can be found on our website,  HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org/run-for-hope.

For more information about Hyundai Hope On Wheels and to view a complete list of this year's grant winners, please visit HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org/research . Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at facebook.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels, twitter.com/HopeOnWheels or instagram.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels. 

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS

Hyundai Hope On Wheels® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. HHOW is one of the largest non-profit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 835 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $130 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through 835 dealerships nationwide. All new Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes a 5-year/60,000-mile fully-transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.

For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com
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2017 Hyundai Hope On Wheels Grant Winners

SOURCE Hyundai Hope On Wheels

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