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Hyundai Hope On Wheels makes donation in support of pediatric cancer research
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – July 13, 2012 – Hyundai Hope On Wheels® and South Florida-area Hyundai dealers will award Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital of Hollywood, FL today with a $75,000 Hyundai Scholar Grant to Dr. Brian Cauff for his work on Pediatric Hematology/Oncology clinical research. Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is one of 42 recipients of Hope On Wheels’ 2012 Hyundai Scholar Grant, which supports principal investigators, known as Hyundai Scholars, who are pursuing research to improve the lives of children battling pediatric cancer.
Over the course of 2012, Hope On Wheels will donate $12 million to children’s hospitals nationwide for pediatric cancer research through its Hyundai Scholar Grant and Hyundai Hope Grant programs. By year-end 2012, Hope On Wheels plans to surpass $57 million in total donations to pediatric cancer research since its inception in 1998.
“On behalf of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation, we thank Hyundai Hope on Wheels for their generous and continued support,” said Brian Cauff, M.D., Associate Director of Hematology/Oncology Services, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. “The Hyundai Scholar Grant enables us to perform life-saving clinical research which impacts the lives of so many of our young patients who are struggling with cancer.”
The $75,000 Hyundai Scholar Grant to Dr. Cauff will be officially presented during a Hope On Wheels handprint ceremony at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital on Friday, July 13 at 2:00 p.m., where South Florida-area children combating 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 children faced with cancer, and brings Hope On Wheels’ community of supporters together.
The event was also attended by C.J. George, a 13-year-old South Florida native and cancer survivor treated at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. C.J. was recently named the 2012-2013 Hope On Wheels National Youth Ambassador and 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 9 years old, and after his courageous battle and treatment at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, C.J. is now cancer-free.
Hope On Wheels primarily provides funds to nonprofit children’s hospitals across the U.S. for pediatric cancer research, and strives 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.
During National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, Hope On Wheels will launch its third annual campaign to raise awareness about pediatric cancer and the need to fund critical research to find a cure. As part of its Hyundai Hope Grant program, Hope On Wheels will award 36 grants of $250,000 each to children’s hospitals across the country. Recipients of these grants will be announced in September.
"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 doctor and institution receiving our grants, and commend them for the important work they are doing.”
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.
JOE DIMAGGIO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Established in 1994, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation (www.jdchfoundation.org) raises funds to assist patients and their families and to underwrite the cost of programs, facilities, and equipment at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, the leading children’s hospital in Broward and Palm Beach counties. The new Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital opened its doors to patients on July 21, 2011. The four-story, 180,000-square-foot facility has six operating rooms, imaging services, and an entire floor dedicated to pediatric oncology care. The hospital’s 48 additional private rooms bring the total licensed beds at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital to 204. To learn more or make a donation, please call 954-265-3454.
