On a sunny afternoon, young patients at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital dipped their hands in bright paint and left their colorful marks on a white Hyundai SUV. The Handprint Ceremony celebrated a $100,000 Impact Grant from Hyundai Hope on Wheels to support pediatric cancer care and research.
The emotional event brought together hospital leaders, families, Hyundai representatives, and local dealers.
“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 grant presentation, pediatric oncologist Dr. Haneen Abdella invited patients to place handprints on her new Hope on Wheels lab coat—a tradition symbolizing the strength and courage of children fighting cancer.
Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a nonprofit founded in 1998, has donated more than $277 million nationwide to fund childhood cancer research—including $1.37 million to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“Hyundai Hope on Wheels is honored to support esteemed hospitals and institutions like Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital to fund and foster innovation and medical advancements for pediatric cancer patients,” said John Guastaferro, executive director of Hyundai Hope on Wheels. “We are grateful for the unwavering dedication and life-saving efforts that bring us closer to a world without childhood cancer.”
On this day, patients and supporters left their mark—on the car, on the lab coat, and on the mission to end childhood cancer.
