Hyundai Hope On Wheels Awards $150,000 Research Grant To St. Louis Children's Hospital Physician In Honor Of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 26, 2016 -- Hyundai Hope On Wheels® (HHOW) and St. Louis-area Hyundai dealers will present Dr. Sima Bhatt, a Fellow in the Department of Hematology and Oncology at St. Louis Children's Hospital, with a $150,000 Young Investigator Grant to be used to expand the knowledge base of pediatric cancer and improve the standards of care. St. Louis Children's Hospital was one of 10 recipients across the country selected from nonprofit Children's Oncology Group (COG) member institutions after a rigorous grading process.
The $150,000 Young Investigator Grant will be presented at St. Louis Children's Hospital (One Children's Place, St. Louis, MO 63110) tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27, at 9:30 am at a Handprint Ceremony during which the handprints of local St. Louis-area brave young cancer patients will be captured on a white 2016 Hyundai Tucson – the Hyundai Hope On Wheels hero vehicle – to commemorate their fight against the disease.
The ceremony will also feature*:
- Joan Magruder, President, St. Louis Children's Hospital
- Dr. Sima Bhatt, Fellow, Department of Hematology and Oncology, St. Louis Children's Hospital; Grant Recipient
- Will and Sheri Bartold, Patient and Mother, St. Louis Children's Hospital
- Ryan Darby (age 13), Pediatric cancer survivor and 2016 HHOW National Youth Ambassador
- Guy Warner, Senior Group Manager, Regional Market Representative, Hyundai Central Region
- Jamie Auffenberg, Dealer/Owner, Auffenberg Hyundai
- Handprint Ceremony: St. Louis-area children affected by cancer will capture their handprints on a white 2016 Hyundai Tucson
*ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW AND PHOTO/B-ROLL OPPORTUNITIES*
"Our mission at Hyundai Hope On Wheels is clear: End Childhood Cancer," said Dave Zuchowski, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "These individual awards to hospitals and organizations across the country are pivotal to ending childhood cancer. Although there remains a lot more work to be done, the innovation that comes from this research will ultimately help us find a cure. To all the kids, families and cancer researchers fighting this terrible disease – you are not alone and we remain committed to this important cause."
About the Hyundai Hope On Wheels Young Investigator Grants and Handprint Ceremonies
The Hyundai Young Investigator Awards are awarded to institutions in pediatric cancer research. This is a $150,000 award and qualified individuals are selected from nonprofit COG member institutions after a grading process. This year alone, HHOW will award more than $13 million in new pediatric cancer grants. Since 1998, the program has funded $115 million in research to COG member institutions nationwide. The program also creates awareness about the importance of the disease, which is the leading cause of death by disease in children in the United States (source).
Attendees at the various ceremonies will include HHOW's two national youth ambassadors and pediatric cancer survivors, Hannah Adams and Ryan Darby, who will deliver a message of hope to children's cancer hospitals. Hannah, now 13 years old, was only five years old when she was diagnosed with a Stage 3 Wilms tumor that enveloped her kidney. Since her recovery, she has pursued her love of dancing and singing to help uplift and encourage other children and families through their fight. Thirteen-year-old Ryan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six years ago, and since his recovery, he has shared his story and words of encouragement with children and families across the country. Watch Hannah and Ryan's story at www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org.
2016 National Call To Action: Give Hope A Hand
In addition to funding a multitude of research projects this September, HHOW is encouraging the public to contribute to the fight against childhood cancer in a personal way. The journey begins with one simple request: Give Hope A Hand. We invite visitors to the newly refreshed website at hyundaihopeonwheels.org, to tell how they will use their hands in the fight against pediatric cancer. Once there visitors can Learn + Care + Do + Give = Hope. There are a number of additional engaging, interactive ways the public can get involved and use their hands for good.
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. HHOW is one of the largest nonprofit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 830 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $115 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.
To learn more about Hyundai Hope On Wheels, please visit www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org or follow us on social media at www.facebook.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels, www.twitter.com/hopeonwheels, and www.youtube.com/hopeonwheels.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, 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 830 dealerships nationwide.
Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com and our blog at www.hyundailikesunday.com
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SOURCE Hyundai Hope On Wheels
CONTACT: Zafar Brooks, Hyundai Motor America, Cell: (714) 334-1766, zbrooks@hmausa.com; Najma Roberts, APCO Worldwide, Cell: (202) 492-3474, nroberts@apcoworldwide.com
RELATED LINKShttp://www.hyundaihopeonwheels.org
