Hyundai Motor America And CHOC Children's Celebrate Grand Opening Of The Hyundai Cancer Institute

COSTA MESA, Calif., July 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor America and its US dealer council, through their nonprofit organization Hyundai Hope On Wheels®, hosted an event last evening at CHOC Children's to celebrate the grand opening of Hyundai Cancer Institute. Hyundai Motor America presented CHOC Children's with the third $2.0 million installment of a $10 million research grant committed in 2011. The event also featured the Hope On Wheels signature Handprint Ceremony with local pediatric cancer patients.   Hyundai also presented CHOC Children's with two new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport vehicles.

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The Hyundai Hope On Wheels grant is being used to fund the Hyundai Cancer Institute, which is a leading research center at CHOC Children's.  Research at the Hyundai Cancer Institute is dedicated to finding cures to pediatric cancers using innovative genomic medicine techniques.  The goals of the research project are to provide a better understanding of the disease and more effective treatment for children diagnosed with pediatric cancer.

"Hyundai Motor America's US headquarters is based in Orange County, and we take great pride in being a part of this community.  We are especially proud of our long-standing relationship with CHOC Children's, a jewel in the community.  With the completion of a major new tower, CHOC Children's continues its mission of providing world-class care for children and families in the Region," said John Krafcik, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America.  "The opening of the Hyundai Cancer Institute continues our commitment to pediatric cancer with CHOC's research excellence.  We could not be more pleased with the ongoing partnership with CHOC," said Krafcik. 

"As we enter into the third year of our grant award with Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Hope On Wheels, we are very excited about the strong infrastructure we've been able to put into place.  We now have the tools and resources needed to develop a more personalized approach to cancer research and treatment to benefit our patients.  We're extremely grateful for the continued partnership with and support of Hyundai in the fight against cancer," said Dr. Leonard Sender, medical director, Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children's.

To celebrate the grand opening of the Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children's Hope On Wheels hosted a special event focused on the idea that "Every Handprint Tells A Story." Hope On Wheels collects the handprints of children affected by cancer because they each represent an individual child's story of hope and courage. Their collective narrative provides a powerful message that Hope On Wheels shares nationwide to raise awareness for this cause.

"To Hyundai dealers, nothing gives us more pride than our work with Hope On Wheels.  The symbol of each handprint in our logo is what drives our commitment to this cause.  Every child deserves a chance to pursue their own dreams and hopes," said Mickey Pong, Chairman of Hyundai Hope On Wheels and owner of North County Hyundai in Carlsbad, Calif.  "As the newly-appointed Hope On Wheels chairman, I will work to ensure that every Hyundai dealer across the U.S. continues to support the important work of children's hospitals like CHOC Children's."

Over the course of 2013, Hope On Wheels will donate $16 million to children's hospitals nationwide. Celebrating its 15^th year, Hope On Wheels will surpass $72 million in total donations to pediatric cancer research and programs since its inception in 1998.  This level of funding places Hyundai among the leading funders of pediatric cancer research in the nation.

To learn more about the Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children's or Hyundai Hope On Wheels visit www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org.   You can also show your support by following us on social media and liking our Facebook page. 

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS
Hyundai Hope On Wheels® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit 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. Primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 800 U.S. dealers. At the end of its 15th year, Hyundai Hope On Wheels will have awarded more than $72 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.

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 820 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 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. Hyundai Assurance includes Assurance Connected Care that provides Hyundai owners with proactive safety and car care services made possible by the Hyundai Blue Link telematics platform, complimentary for three years. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and in-vehicle service scheduling.    

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ABOUT CHOC CHILDREN'S
Named one of the best children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report (2013-2014), CHOC Children's is exclusively committed to the health and well-being of children through clinical expertise, advocacy, outreach and research that brings advanced treatment to pediatric patients. Affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, CHOC's regional healthcare network includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo, several primary and specialty care clinics, a pediatric residency program, and four centers of excellence - The CHOC Children's Heart, Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Hyundai Cancer Institutes.

CHOC earned the Gold Level CAPE Award from the California Council of Excellence, the only children's hospital in California to ever earn this distinction, and was awarded Magnet designation, the highest honor bestowed to hospitals for nursing excellence.  Recognized for extraordinary commitment to high-quality critical care standards, CHOC's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is the first in the United States to earn the Pediatric Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence.

For more information on CHOC Children's, visit http://www.choc.org/

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America