Hyundai Hope on Wheels® donates $100,000 to support the Pediatric Cancer program at Children’s Hospital New Orleans
In celebration, patients handprinted the Hyundai Hope on Wheels® vehicle that is traveling the nation during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month
NEW ORLEANS – September is National Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month and Children’s Hospital New Orleans is proud to announce a $100,000 Impact Award from Hyundai Hope On Wheels® that will support the more than 2,000 children from across Louisiana and the Gulf South who are cared for by the hospital’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders each year.
Dr. Benjamin Watkins helps a pediatric cancer patient decorate the Hyundai Hope on Wheels® vehicle.
“Receiving a life changing diagnosis is just that, totally life changing,” says Children’s Hospital New Orleans President and CEO, Lucio A. Fragoso. “Our Hematology Oncology team delivers expert and lifesaving care while also creating an environment of hope, support and comfort for children receiving treatment for cancer or blood disorders and their families. Most of our children spend months, even years in treatment with us here. The generous grant from Hyundai Hope On Wheels® helps us amplify their care and experience.”
The donation will be used to provide financial assistance to families facing financial burden to help cover the cost of necessities like food, medication and housing and to help amplify the experience of patients and families who are receiving care in the hospital.
“Every 36 minutes a child is diagnosed with pediatric cancer. It drastically changes their lives, with treatments including chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries – during a time when they should be experiencing the simple joys of childhood,” says Tim Wallwork from Hyundai Motor America. “That’s why Hyundai Hope On Wheels® joined this fight 26 years ago – and we will continue to stand with our partners in health for as long as it takes until we find a cure.”
Following the donation presentation, patients were invited to leave painted handprints on a Hyundai vehicle that will travel the nation during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, celebrated annually throughout September, while the organization awards $26 million in grants to children’s hospitals across the country.
The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital provides expert treatment and transplantation for children with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, hemophilia and other childhood cancers and blood disorders, regardless of the family’s ability to pay. Children’s Hospital is the only accredited pediatric facility in the state, performing bone marrow transplants and actively conducting cancer research on therapies at the forefront of medicine. The center also has the largest, most experienced group of pediatric cancer specialists in the region, staffed by faculty from LSU Health New Orleans and Tulane Pediatrics. Learn more at chnola.org/cancer.
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About Children’s Hospital New Orleans
Children’s Hospital New Orleans is a 263-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, delivered just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Children’s offers a comprehensive array of pediatric healthcare services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, the hospital operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and Diamondhead, MS. Children’s offers primary care services at 14 convenient locations and via its Virtual Care for Kids program. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, East Jefferson General Hospital, Tulane Medical Center, Lakeview Hospital, and Lakeside Hospital. Learn more at chnola.org.
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 830 U.S. dealers. In 2023, Hyundai Hope On Wheels will surpass a lifetime total donation of $225 million in support of more than 1,300 childhood cancer research grants.