Hyundai Motor America Launches Hyundai Scholars Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Program
NEW PROGRAM TO RAISE MORE THAN $10 MILLION IN FIVE YEARS FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 12/12/2007 Hyundai Motor America and its dealers announced the launch of the Hyundai Scholars Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Program at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and presented a $150,000 check to the CHOC Cancer Institute. The Hyundai Scholars Fellowship Program will fund research positions at top pediatric cancer centers across the country, helping doctors find cures for this devastating disease. The program’s goal is to raise more than $10 million for pediatric cancer research in the next five years.
“Hyundai and its dealers have been great allies in the fight against pediatric cancer with financial and emotional support to hospitals, patients and their families,” said Dr. Leonard Sender M.D., Director of the Cancer Institute at CHOC and Director of Clinical Oncology Services at CHAO Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at UC Irvine. “The funds received from Hope On Wheels and the Hyundai Scholars Fellowship Program will be put to good use in our research department as we continue to look for new solutions and innovative tools in the pursuit of a cure.”
Keith Duckworth, executive vice president, General Affairs, Hyundai Motor America (HMA) and Zafar Brooks, director, Corporate Affairs and Diversity Outreach, HMA, presented Dr. Sender with a check for $150,000 to further research in the pediatric oncology department. Earlier this year, Hyundai presented Dr. Dan Wechsler at Duke Children’s Hospital in Durham, North Carolina with a check for $140,000. A third Hyundai Scholars Fellowship Program donation will be awarded to Dr. David Pollack at Texas Children’s Hospital this winter. The doctors awarded in 2007 will serve as the founders of Hyundai’s Hope on Wheels medical advisory board and lead the design of the nationwide Hyundai Fellowship Program in 2008.
Since the inception of Hope On Wheels in 2004, Hyundai and its dealers have visited more than 100 hospitals nationwide (30 in 2007 alone) and donated more than $10 million dollars. Hyundai’s Hope On Wheels program is a united effort of more than 750 Hyundai dealers to raise funds for pediatric cancer institutions across the nation. The tour features a white Hyundai Santa Fe covered with the colorful handprints of pediatric cancer patients from all over the country collected at “handprint” donation ceremonies.
“Hyundai’s involvement in pediatric cancer has grown both in total contribution and company-wide commitment since the beginning of the Hope on Wheels program,” Brooks said. “With the implementation of the Hyundai Scholars Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Program, Hyundai hopes to further develop awareness around pediatric cancer research funding and inspire others to support this important cause.”
The complete list of 2007 Hope On Wheels tour stops, including benefiting hospitals, is available on www.hopeonwheels.com.