hyundai hope on wheels

Driven to End Childhood Cancer

Every new vehicle sold helps fight childhood cancer.

Founded in 1998, Hyundai Hope on Wheels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fighting pediatric cancer through research funding and public awareness. Supported by Hyundai Motor America, over 850 dealers, and customers, the organization donates a portion of every new vehicle sale to pediatric cancer research. By 2025, donations will exceed $277 million.

Every handprint tells a story.

Since 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels and a group of New England-area dealers joined the fight against pediatric cancer. They've worked timelessly to support the families, researchers, doctors and children impacted by childhood cancer.  Working as a team, we support a local initiative to support the Jimmy Fund at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This activity quickly grew nationwide and soon became Hyundai Hope On Wheels (Hyundai Hope On Wheels). Hyundai Hope On Wheels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, that is committed to helping kids fight cancer. The goals of the organization are to fund research and to create awareness for childhood cancer. Hyundai Motor America and its more than 830 dealers and customers support the cause with a donation from every new vehicle sold. In 2022, Hyundai Hope On Wheels surpassed $200 million in life-time donations to pediatric cancer research in the United States. Which means, with everyone's generous donations, Hyundai Hope All Wheels has awarded grants totaling over $200 million, thanks to Hyundai Motor America an its dealers nationwide.

Why Pediatric Cancer?

Hyundai and its dealers are committed to Better products, Better service, and a Better society. Through acts of better, we donate to charitable efforts in order to benefit society.  Kids are the future and they deserve every opportunity to grow, play and learn in a world free of pediatric cancer. Every 36 minutes a child is diagnosed with the disease in the U.S. Despite advancements in research, one in five diagnosed will not survive. Pediatric cancer is the leading disease and cause of death for U.S. children. At Hyundai Hope On Wheels, our goal is to fund pediatric cancer research, to drive innovative research and to create new discoveries that increase the survival rates of those with the disease.

Why Handprints?

Each year Hyundai Hope On Wheels visits children's hospitals across the U.S. to donate funds and raise awareness. During the event, we host our signature "Handprint Ceremony" which captures each child's handprint in paint. These handprints are placed on Hyundai cars that travel across the country to build colorful awareness of the program.

Why funding research matters?

As recent as the 1950's, a diagnosis of pediatric cancer has an almost always certain outcome and very few children survived.  Due to advancements technology, improvements in data analysis, and research collaboration, today nearly 80% of pediatric cancers can be cured. The survival rate, while good, does not tell the entire story. Many forms of pediatric cancer remain high risk for children and have shown little progress. And the harmful side effect for far too many kids, take a severe toll on their bodies. The goal of research is to improve cures and to improve care for children diagnosed with the disease. You may be shocked to discover that less than 4% of federal research funding for cancer is designated for pediatrics. Without necessary funding, potentially life-saving research and new treatment therapies will go undone. We believe that these young childhood-cancer fighters deserve a chance, and Hyundai Hope On Wheels is funding research in pursuit of a cure.

Why Hyundai Hope On Wheels Research Grants?

Hyundai Hope On Wheels has quickly become recognized as a leader in funding of pediatric cancer research in the U.S. More than 10,000 grants have been awarded over the past 25 years. In fact, there are over 280 Hyundai Hope On Wheels research projects currently underway. A Hyundai Hope On Wheels research grant is awarded to an institution that is member of the Children's Oncology group of America (COG) and the doctor-researcher within these institutions is doing research in pediatric oncology, which has a translational benefit to patients. Grant applicants are invited to submit a research proposal once a year. These proposals are peer-reviewed by a scientific panel and funded grants are selected based on their innovation to the field and ability to have the greatest impact on improving cures.  There are 4 Hyundai Hope On Wheels grant categories:

1.      The Hyundai Impact Award -  ($100,000): a one-year grant awarded to the pediatric cancer oncology department at children's hospitals in the U.S. Funds may be used to provide programmatic support or clinician for patient care at the center.

2.      The Young Investigator Grant - ($200,000): a two-year grant, which is peer-reviewed and competitively selected. The grant supports the work of a pediatric oncologist, who is within his/her first 7 years of practice at an academic institution and is doing translational research.

3.      The Hyundai Scholar Hope Grant - ($300,000): a two-year grant, which is peer-reviewed and competitively selected. The grant supports the work of a pediatric oncologist, who is an MD physician-researcher at any level of his/her career at any COG member institution and is doing translational research.

4.      The Hyundai Quantum Award -  ($1 million): a four-year grant, which is for a peer-reviewed and competitively selected. This grant is awarded to a pediatric oncologist, who is an MD physician-researcher, for advanced research projects that focus on high risk pediatric cancers with low survival rates.