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Hyundai Hope on Wheels Announces 2025 Grant Award Winners

  • Hyundai Hope on Wheels marks 27 years of driving hope and innovation
  • $27 million in 2025 grants to advance pediatric cancer research nationwide
  • Hyundai Hope on Wheels reaches $277 million in lifetime giving

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 17, 2025Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by Hyundai Motor America and its 850 U.S. dealers, recently announced the 2025 recipients of its annual research and programmatic grants. This year, Hyundai Hope on Wheels is donating $27 million to support the fight against pediatric cancer, bringing the organization’s lifetime total of giving to $277 million since its inception in 1998. A total of 106 grants will be awarded to medical institutions nationwide, aimed at improving outcomes and treatments for children with cancer, including 31 Hyundai Scholar Hope Grants at $400,000 each, 16 Hyundai Young Investigator Grants at $300,000 each, 57 Hyundai Impact Grants at $100,000 each, and two Hyundai Bridge2K Grants at $150,000 each.

“Hyundai Hope on Wheels is at the heart of who we are at Hyundai,” said Randy Parker, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America. “Childhood cancer, unfortunately, affects too many families. This is why Hyundai Hope on Wheels was created – to help put an end to this disease. We’re proud to announce the 2025 grant winners who will undoubtedly continue to work tirelessly to support all those affected by pediatric cancer.”

In 1998, a group of New England dealers founded Hyundai Hope on Wheels to raise funds for the fight against pediatric cancer. Over the past 27 years, Hyundai Hope on Wheels has become a nationwide movement, with over 1,400 grants given to 175 institutions. Hyundai Hope on Wheels is also one of the leading pediatric cancer charities in the country.

“We are proud of the impact being made on people’s lives through Hyundai Hope on Wheels,” said John Guastaferro, executive director, Hyundai Hope on Wheels. “Through our partnerships with researchers, doctors, and hospitals all over the country, we are advancing hope through life-saving research, treatments, and survivorship programs.”

Four categories of grants are awarded to eligible Children’s Oncology Group (COG) member institutions. The Hyundai Scholar Hope Grant and the Hyundai Young Investigator Grant are two-year awards competitively selected for innovative research. Applications were reviewed by a Medical Advisory Committee comprised of leading pediatric oncologists from around the country. The Hyundai Impact Grant is an annual award that funds innovative research or programmatic support for the selected institution’s pediatric oncology department. The Hyundai Bridge2K grant is a one-year award that provides bridge funding for pediatric cancer researchers resubmitting high-scoring national grants.

Hyundai Hope on Wheels is presenting these grants during Handprint Ceremonies, the organization’s signature event. During the ceremony, children affected by cancer, doctors, researchers, partners, and Hyundai representatives place their handprints on a Hyundai vehicle, symbolizing the collective fight against pediatric cancer and the united hope for a cure.

During National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, Hyundai Hope on Wheels honored its 27th anniversary in Washington, D.C. At its annual gala, Hyundai executives, members of Congress, doctors and researchers, and families convened to spotlight the remarkable progress the organization has made over the years and its 2026 expansion to new markets in Europe and India. Hyundai Hope on Wheels also held a congressional reception on Capitol Hill at the Rayburn House Office Building featuring an exhibit and a survivorship summit focused on the long-term support of pediatric cancer survivors.

 

Hyundai Hope on Wheels National Youth Ambassador, Jackson Trinh, at a Handprint Ceremony at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles on Aug. 5, 2025. (Photo/Hyundai)
Hyundai Hope on Wheels National Youth Ambassador, Jackson Trinh, at a Handprint Ceremony at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles on Aug. 5, 2025. (Photo/Hyundai)

(left to right) John Guastaferro, executive director, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Jackson Trinh, national youth ambassador, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Claudia Márquez, chief operating officer, Hyundai Motor America, Kevin Reilly, vice chair, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Emmy Cole, national youth ambassador, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Randy Parker, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 2, 2025 (Photo/Hyundai)
(left to right) John Guastaferro, executive director, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Jackson Trinh, national youth ambassador, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Claudia Márquez, chief operating officer, Hyundai Motor America, Kevin Reilly, vice chair, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Emmy Cole, national youth ambassador, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Randy Parker, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 2, 2025 (Photo/Hyundai)

Hyundai Scholar Hope Grant Winners ($400,000))

Institution City State
Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Atlanta GA
Children’s Health (Children’s Medical Center Dallas) Dallas TX
Children’s Hospital Colorado Aurora CO
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles CA
Children’s Minnesota Minneapolis MN
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati OH
Connecticut Children’s Hartford CT
Diamond Children’s Medical Center and University of Arizona Steele Children’s Research Center Tucson AZ
Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center Durham NC
Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Washington DC
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center Baltimore MD
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford Palo Alto CA
M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital Minneapolis MN
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital (NY Medical College) Valhalla NY
Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston TX
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York NY
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus OH
Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health Oklahoma City OK
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital Hershey PA
Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego CA
Seattle Children’s Hospital Seattle WA
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Memphis TN
St. Louis Children’s Hospital St. Louis MO
Texas Children’s Hospital Houston TX
The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Bronx NY
UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital Los Angeles CA
UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Cleveland OH
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA
Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia Augusta GA
Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital New Haven CT

 

Hyundai Young Investigator Grant Winners ($300,000)

Institution City State
Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Atlanta GA
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Chicago IL
Children’s Health (Children’s Medical Center Dallas) Dallas TX
Children’s Hospital Colorado Aurora CO
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles CA
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia PA
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (2) Boston MA
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center Baltimore MD
Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital Hackensack NJ
NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital New York NY
Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego CA
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Memphis TN
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital (2) San Francisco CA
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA

 

Hyundai Impact Grant Winners ($100,000)

Institution City State
Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Atlanta GA
Arkansas Children’s Little Rock AR
Atrium Levine Children’s Hospital Charlotte NC
Baystate Health Foundation Springfield MA
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Richmond VA
Children’s Hospital Colorado Springs Colorado Springs CO
Children’s Hospital of OC (CHOC) Orange CA
Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters Norfolk VA
Children’s Mercy Kansas City Kansas City MO
Children’s National Hospital Washington DC
Children’s of Alabama – Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Birmingham AL
Children’s Wisconsin Milwaukee WI
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati OH
City of Hope Children’s Cancer Center Duarte CA
Diamond Children’s Medical Center and University of Arizona Steele Children’s Research Center Tucson AZ
Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center Durham NC
El Paso Children’s Hospital Foundation El Paso TX
Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Washington DC
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Hollywood FL
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital St. Petersburg FL
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center Baltimore MD
Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital Hackensack NJ
Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children Honolulu HI
Kentucky Children’s Hospital Lexington KY
Maine Children’s Cancer Program Scarborough ME
Manning Family Children’s New Orleans LA
Mass General Hospital Boston MA
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York NY
Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach CA
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Nashville TN
MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital Charleston SC
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus OH
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Miami FL
Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health Oklahoma City OK
Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Orlando FL
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital Hershey PA
Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis IN
Phoenix Children’s Phoenix AZ
Primary Children’s Hospital Salt Lake City UT
Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego CA
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Buffalo NY
Seattle Children’s Hospital Seattle WA
St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Tampa FL
St. Louis Children’s Hospital St. Louis MO
Tampa General Hospital Tampa FL
The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Bronx NY
The Melodies Center at The Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center Albany NY
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Sacramento CA
UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital Chicago IL
UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Cleveland OH
UNC Children’s Hospital Chapel Hill NC
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA
USA Health, Children’s and Women’s Hospital Mobile AL
UT Health San Antonio San Antonio TX
Vannie E. Cook Children’s Clinic McAllen TX
WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital Morgantown WV
Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital New Haven CT

 

Hyundai Bridge2K Grant Winners ($150,000)

Institution City State
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus OH
Seattle Children’s Hospital Seattle WA

 

Hyundai Hope on Wheels
Hyundai Hope On Wheels® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to finding a cure for 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 critical research aimed at improving treatments and saving lives. Hyundai Hope on Wheels is one of the largest nonprofit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country. Primary funding for Hyundai Hope on Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 850 U.S. dealers. In 2025, Hyundai Hope on Wheels will reach a lifetime donation total of $277 million in support of more than 1,400 childhood cancer research grants to over 175 hospitals and research institutions.

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company’s Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai’s 850 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a published economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.

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Contact
Raelynn Blackwell
(714) 874-7885
rblackwell@hmausa.com

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