TAMPA, Fla. — Hyundai Hope on Wheels and the Suncoast Hyundai Dealers awarded St. Joseph’s Hospital with a $100,000 Hope Grant to support their programmatic initiative helping to manage pain and fear associated with procedures in children dealing with cancer. St. Joseph’s Hospital is one of 71 recipients of Hyundai Hope on Wheels’ 2011 Hope Grant program, where $7.1 million will be awarded to support research and programs in honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

The month-long September program marks Hyundai Hope on Wheels’ largest donation period to date, and will bring the total amount that the nonprofit has committed to childhood cancer, since it first began in 1998, to $43 million.

The $100,000 Hope Grant to St. Joseph’s Hospital was officially presented at its foundation’s “18th Annual Stepping Out Gala: Endless Summer” on Sept. 10 at the Hyatt Regency Tampa. The hospital also received a vehicle donation for silent auction from Scott Fink of Hyundai of New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel and the Suncoast Hyundai Dealers. The 2012 Hyundai Genesis raised a total of $140,000 for the foundation’s benefit.

For the second year in a row, Hyundai’s competitive September program allowed institutions to apply for either research or programmatic grants. The submitted proposals were then reviewed by Hyundai’s elite board of medical directors. Each of the 71 Hope Grants will help fund new pediatric cancer research projects, and will be presented during a Hope Grant ceremony that will take place at the participating institution’s campus.

“We are proud to do our part locally to help fight pediatric cancer,” said Scott Fink, owner of Hyundai of Newport Richey and Wesley Chapel. “We’re inspired by the battle these kids with cancer deal with daily and it’s an honor to be able to contribute to their fight.”

For more information on Hyundai Hope on Wheels’ September Hope Grant program and the 71 winning institutions, please visit www.HyundaiHopeonWheels.org.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile power train warranty, 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance and the Hyundai Trade-in Value Guarantee.

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS

Hyundai Hope on Wheels® is the united effort of Hyundai Motor America and its more than 800 dealers across the U.S. to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to celebrate the lives of children battling the disease. In 2011, Hope on Wheels will have committed more than $43 million in donations to pediatric cancer research since the program began in 1998.  Hyundai Hope on Wheels is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.