Oahu, Hawaii – January 5, 2012 – Hyundai Hope on Wheels and Oahu-area Hyundai dealers will today award Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children of Honolulu a Hyundai Scholar Grant in the amount of $50,000. The funds will support the work of Dr. Randy Wada, Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist & Medical Director, Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children, which combines clinically validated programs to improve health behaviors in both the physical activity and nutrition of adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer. The data for these programs is also integrated into the Hawai‘i Pacific Health electronic medical information system to reduce obesity and its associated risks in the population.

This latest Hyundai Scholar Grant awarded to Kapi’olani Medical Center raises the total amount donated to the hospital by Hope on Wheels to $270,000 since 2009, and will be officially presented to Dr. Wada and the hospital during a Hope on Wheels Handprint Ceremony at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children on January 5, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. At the ceremony, Oahu-area children affected by cancer will place their handprints in colorful paint on a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe – the official vehicle of the Hope on Wheels tour – to commemorate their brave battles with cancer.

“The current grant will allow us to take what we have learned from previous funding, and leverage this knowledge by utilizing MyHealthAdvantage, Hawai‘i Pacific Health’s exciting new web-based patient information portal,” said Dr. Wada. “We are deeply grateful for the opportunities afforded us by Hope on Wheels, and believe that they will bode well for the futures of the many patients we have been entrusted to serve.”

In its continued effort to address the growing needs of children battling cancer and their families, Hyundai Hope on Wheels will also fund the complete renovation of the Kapi’olani Medical Center Children’s Playroom, including upgrades to its entertainment devices, furniture and other materials to help create a more manageable hospital stay for all children being treated and their families. “We are thrilled to award the first Scholar Grant of our 2012 program to Kapi‘olani Medical Center, a long-time partner that continues to make great strides in the fight against pediatric cancer,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. “In recognition of the work being done at Kapi‘olani and to meet the growing needs of their patients, we are proud to renovate the Children’s Playroom and open the Hyundai Hot Spot that will serve as a relaxing and fun-filled area for all the children that visit the hospital.”

Kapi‘olani staff will utilize the Hyundai Hot Spot and updated environment, furniture, technology and developmental toys in the Children’s Playroom to successfully work with children to more effectively teach them about their treatments in a fun and comfortable environment. Patients’ parents and schools will also be involved in the playroom’s activities in order to ensure the continuation of their studies.

“Our playroom is essential to the care we provide our young patients here at Kapi‘olani,” said Martha Smith, COO of Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children. “It’s a safe place for children of all ages to escape their treatment plan and just enjoy being a child, and it’s important that we continue to have support from community partners like Hyundai to keep this vital program as part of the Kapi‘olani experience.”

The 2012 program marks the 14th year of Hyundai’s mission to fight childhood cancer, and in addition to the Hope on Wheels Handprint Ceremony at Kapi’olani Medical Center, Hyundai will be the presenting sponsor of the Tournament of Champions golf tournament for the second year in a row, starting on Thursday, January 5 at The Plantation Course in Kapalua Resort in Maui. The 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions is the season-opening event of the PGA TOUR, which features only winners of the 2011 PGA TOUR season.

For more information about Hyundai Hope on Wheels, please visit http://www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org.

Adam Robles
Finn Partners
[email protected]