Hyundai Hope On Wheels is a nonprofit organization supported by Hyundai Motor America and its more than 830 dealers. Every September the organization has its’ annual campaign in honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Throughout the month of September, Hope On Wheels awards 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.
Hope On Wheels is traveling the country visiting children’s hospitals to present research grants and to honor the brave children battling cancer. A tradition of the Hope On Wheels is its’ signature Handprint Ceremony.
During the tour, the Hyundai Hope On Wheels made their stop in Dallas, TX to host the Celebration of Life Dinner so attendees were able to see all of what Hope on Wheels is doing in the community and honor doctors helping in the fight.
The beautiful ceremony included a dinner with survivors, their families, doctors and Hyundai representatives. The host, actress Jennifer Freeman, also held a Q&A panel with a few doctors about their work in Children’s Pediatric Cancer and how Hyundai Hope On Wheels has effected their research.
The ceremony ended with a heartfelt performance from The Voice contestant and Texas native, Luke Wade with the help of young survivors invited on stage. The Hope on Wheels kicked off Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month with giving away a few grants as well :
Hyundai Scholar Hope Grant ($250,000)
– Dr. Christopher Porter, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
– Dr. Julie Wolfson, University of Alabama – Birmingham
Hyundai Young Investigator Grant ($150,000)
– Dr. Kathryn Dickerson, UT Southwestern Children’s Medical Center Foundation
– Dr. Wendy Allen-Rhoades, Texas Children’s Hospital
