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Thanks to Hyundai Hope on Wheels®, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation was awarded a $100,000 Impact Grant to fund pediatric cancer care and support.
The emotional Hyundai Hope on Wheels ceremony at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital was attended by patients, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation, Hyundai leadership local Hyundai dealers, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital staff, led by CEO Caitlin Stella, and pediatric hematologist/oncologist Haneen Abdella, MD, who received a Hope On Wheels lab coat.
“We cherish the long-standing relationship we have with Hyundai Hope on Wheels,” said Kelley Morris, MHA, President and CEO of the Memorial and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundations. “Their philanthropic investment in the care and support of our most vulnerable patients is extraordinary. Every dollar brings us closer to healing, hope and a brighter future for our patients and their families.”
Following the ceremony, patients and their families moved outside for the traditional Handprint Ceremony, where they dipped their hands in colorful paint and placed their handprint on the Hyundai Hope on Wheels vehicle. Dr. Abdella then invited them to add their handprints to her new white Hope on Wheels lab coat. Each painted handprint symbolizes the strength, stories and hope these young warriors carry with them on their journey toward a cancer-free future for all children.
“We are grateful to receive this Hyundai Hope on Wheels Impact Award and thank them for over 18 years of standing with our patients and families in helping us to advance new treatments and improve outcomes for children battling cancer here in South Florida,” said Stella. “This is for our kids who inspire us everyday with their bravery, courage and strength.”
More than 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year 43 children are diagnosed with cancer every day.
“Hyundai Hope on Wheels is honored to support esteemed hospitals and institutions such as the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital to fund and foster innovation and medical advancements for pediatric cancer patients,” states John Guastaferro, executive director, Hyundai Hope on Wheels. “We are grateful for the unwavering dedication and life-saving efforts that will bring us closer to a world without childhood cancer.”
Since Hyundai Hope On Wheels launched nationally in 1998, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation has received $1.37 million from the 501(c)(3) non-profit.
About Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals, offering a comprehensive scope of healthcare services and programs in a caring, compassionate setting designed specifically for children. The level one pediatric trauma center combines advanced technology, the expertise of some of the region’s most diverse, board-certified specialists, and a patient and family-centered focus to heal the body, mind, and spirit. Part of Memorial Healthcare System, the pediatric hospital in Hollywood, Florida, recently doubled in size, adding four floors, including a comprehensive cardiac care floor, an intraoperative MRI, an inpatient rehabilitation gym, family and staff support areas, and the 14th Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Child Life Zone, among other offerings.
The hospital’s nonprofit foundation focuses on philanthropy to positively impact patients, families, and underwrite programs, facilities, and equipment that support the pediatric facility’s mission. To learn more, visit jdch.com and connect with @jdchospital on Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram.
About 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 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.
