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Please tell us about the Hyundai Hope On Wheels program—how it began and how it has expanded
in recent years. Sure, I'm happy to do so. The "Hyundai Hope On Wheels" program is Hyundai's
very own nonprofit organization, an authentic effort, dedicated to eradicating the serious
problem of childhood cancer. I'd like to give you a little background on how we got started
in this work.
It began in 1998 fifteen years ago. It began very organically. A group of Hyundai dealers,
in Boston and the greater New England area, along with Hyundai employees, began raising money
to help a local hospital, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Jimmy Fund. That local
initiative was born organically, which is something we enjoy -- our deals giving back
in their local communities. We encourage that. It grew and ultimately became a nationwide
initiative. By 2004, the program was carried in markets all across the country, and I had
the great fortune in late 2006 to be invited to lead this program. We incorporated in 2007.
It is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. That gives us some flexibility and allows
the public to engage with us and participate in our campaigns.
During this fifteen-year period, Hope On Wheels has provided $72.6 million for pediatric cancer
research here in the United States. We believe, based on data we've seen, this ranks us as
the second or third largest nonprofit organization in the United States focused specifically
on childhood cancer research that does not receive any government funding assistance.
Our program is straightforward. It's quite simple. We help kids fight cancer, and we
do so by funding research and creating public awareness about the significant threat of
this disease. To give you a little bit of background, childhood cancer is the leading
cause of death today in American children. Every half hour or so another child is diagnosed
with cancer. While there has been an amazing amount of progress made through research (nearly
80 percent of childhood cancers can be cured) we do not feel we have come far enough. We
look for the day when no child has to go through the experience of having cancer. During the
last fifteen years, we've done a range of things we're proud of, and I'd like to share
with you just a handful of some of the more current projects Hyundai Motor America is
doing. First of all, we have two different grant categories. The "Hyundai Scholar Award"
funds a one-year research grant to a member institution that is engaged in research or
programs that serve children with cancer and their families. We don't pay for hospital
stays. We don't pay for medical treatment. This is specifically designed for research
projects that help advance the understanding of the disease and treatments within the field.
The Hyundai Scholar Award is a one-year award of $75,000. Local dealers and employees around
the country nominate local children's hospitals. Once a hospital has been nominated, they are
invited to apply. They provide an outcomes-based proposal
to advance the field
of scientific knowledge about the disease. The second category of grant funding is known
as the "Hyundai September Hope Grant". Now, many people in your audience may be aware
that September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It's a time where we, as
a community, reflect on the significance of this issue and support the children and their
families. Hyundai funds this grant, which is a two-year, $250,000 research award. Every
hospital in the country, every
COG-member children's hospital in the country is invited to apply. We have a panel or leading
medical professionals. There are 8 of them who serve on the review committee. They help
design the grant's guidelines and make sure they are appropriate for the field, and then
they review and score the applications, which are ultimately funded.
In December of 2012
we opened up the process and invited applicants. In early March of 2013 we selected the winners.
I'm proud to tell you that we are funding forty-one different research projects. The
grants will be presented in the month of September.and that is a total of $10.25 million in that
month alone to benefit child cancer research. A few other things we do, our program is of
course led by a board of directors, which I have the pleasure of leading day-to-day
operational responsibility. That board is a partnership with our Hyundai dealers.
They serve on four seats on the board and we, at Hyundai, also have two seats on the board
along with the medical advisory committee. The other thing we do that we believe there is an
important part of our story, which is to grow public awareness of the prevalence of pediatric cancer.
We have engaged in a wide array of programs on behalf of these children. We are their
voice. In addition to all of our special programs, we have developed a community through the
use of social media, an important part of that strategy. We have a Facebook page, a
Twitter page. We use Pinterest and Instagram. We also have a website: HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org.
We invite people to go there, to meet the families, to meet the children and to meet
the doctors who are doing the research. It will give you a better idea of why Hyundai,
a car company, is involved in this particular issue.
A couple of other things just to wrap up very quickly. With respect to public awareness,
we have created a 5K series which gives people a chance to help the cause - to walk and run
- with their friends and families in the communities where we participate. We have pledged that
one hundred percent of the money we raise through the 5Ks is donated to a local children's
hospital in that community. We are very much committed to giving back. Last but not least,
we have our Youth Ambassador program. A childhood cancer survivor is selected
for a two-year assignment.
They go around the country with us to meet families and children in different
hospitals telling their stories of hope and of their victories. It's sometimes just great
to hear from someone who have already gone through this experience and what it means,
what they witnessed as well to give hope and encouragement to the families who are going
on the same journey. Our current Youth Ambassador is a fourteen-year-old young man out of Miami,
Florida. His name is C.J. George. He is an absolutely amazing kid who has such a powerful
story. One of the things C.J. often says is, "I didn't have a choice. I had to fight pediatric
cancer." We have joined him in his fight to let him know that we at Hyundai, along with
our U.S. dealer body, are committed and are pledged to one day finding a cure for this
dreaded disease.