Hyundai Hope On Wheels®(HHOW), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported by Hyundai and its U.S. dealers, presented Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children with a $100,000 Hyundai Impact Award Grant to continue its long-standing fight against pediatric cancer. Kapiolani is one of 77 recipients receiving a combined $16 million in new grants this year to develop innovative approaches to finding a cure for the disease. Dr. Darryl Glaser, chair of Kapiolani’s Pediatric Oncology Department, accepted the grant award on behalf of Dr. Randal K. Wada at a special ceremony held at Kapiolani.
HHOW remains one of the largest funders of pediatric cancer research in the nation. This year, HHOW's support will reach $160 million in total lifetime funding since 1998 towards finding a cure. With this latest grant, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children has received $665,000 in total grants since 2009 from HHOW.
“We are extremely grateful that Hyundai Hope on Wheels continues to invest in research and technology at Kapiolani that will improve our ability to care for patients facing life-threatening diseases,” said Dr. Randal K. Wada, medical director of Kapiolani’s pediatric stem cell transplant program, the only one of its kind in the state. “Our team at Kapiolani makes every effort to deliver the best medical options for our local kids right here in the islands, and this funding will allow us to develop a critical new supportive care modality for our pediatric transplant patients."
Every 36 minutes a child is diagnosed with pediatric cancer, affecting over 15,000 new cases for children and adolescents annually in the U.S. This year’s campaign theme “Minutes are Precious” celebrates the many milestones in a child’s life from birthdays, game days and graduation day. By supporting innovative research and novel therapy, HHOW’s goal is to ensure every child lives to enjoy more of life’s precious moments for years to come.
“For 21 years, Hyundai and its dealers have partnered with medical doctor research teams from the top hospitals and institutions from around the country in a quest to finally beat this disease,” says Scott Fink, Board Chair and Hyundai dealer owner, Hyundai of New Port Richey. “Hyundai’s contributions have helped to significantly improve childhood cancer cure rates to more than 80 percent. This is why every minute is precious and every second matters in the fight against pediatric cancer.”
During the event, children being treated at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children who are battling cancer participated in the program’s signature Handprint Ceremony, in which they dipped their hands in paint and placed their handprints on a white 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. Their colorful handprints on the official Hope Vehicle represent their individual and collective journeys, hopes and dreams.
For more information about Hyundai Hope On Wheels and to view a list of the 2019 Hope On Wheels grant winners, visit HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org/Research.
View the recap video of the award presentation at Kapiolani here.