On October 20, 2022, Hyundai Hope On Wheels, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by Hyundai Motor America and its U.S. dealers, presented a $300,000 Hyundai Scholar Hope Grant to Atrium Health Levine Children’s in the fight against childhood cancer. Levine Children’s is among 75 recipients receiving a combined $15 million in new grants this year to develop innovative approaches to finding a cure for the disease. The Hyundai Scholar Hope Award was presented to Dr. Giselle Saulnier Sholler, whose research will focus on developing a potential treatment for two non-medulloblastoma pediatric embryonal brain tumors.
Children diagnosed with Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumors (ATRT) and Embryonal Tumors with Multilayered Rosettes (ETMR) face a 5-year survival rate of less than 30% with current therapies. With grant funding from Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Dr. Sholler and Dr. Jeffrey Huo hope to improve these dismal prognoses. Together, they will conduct a two-year study at Levine Children’s to investigate the use of a potent gene inhibitor, 9-ING-41, in targeting pro-cancer pathway genes to suppress ATRT and ETMR growth. Ultimately, findings from the study may have rapid, and significantly broader, long-term impacts on children with other types of hard-to-treat tumors.
“Hyundai continues to be a community leader, both locally and nationally, in funding pediatric cancer research,” said Kellie McGregor, assistant vice president at Atrium Health Foundation, during her remarks. “Thanks to today’s gift, Hyundai has donated over $1 million since 2010 to help fund pediatric cancer research right here at Levine Children’s. They are also a founding member of our Carolinas Kids Cancer Research Coalition.”
Pictured (L-R): 7-year-old Andrew and 13-year-old David left their mark with two color handprints on the Hyundai Hope vehicle.
To conclude the celebration, two Levine Children’s patients were invited to participate in the Hyundai Hope On Wheels Handprint Ceremony, dipping their hands in paint and placing their handprints on a white Hyundai Sante Fe. Their colorful handprints will be added to the Hyundai Hope vehicle, which travels the nation visiting other children’s hospitals, symbolizing their fight against pediatric cancer and hope for a cure.
For more information about Hyundai Hope On Wheels visit www.hyundaihopeonwheels.org.
About Atrium Health Foundation
Founded in 1959, Atrium Health Foundation is one of the largest charitable foundations in Charlotte. As the point of contact for all contributions benefiting Atrium Health in the Charlotte region, the Foundation inspires transformational giving to improve health, elevate hope, and advance healing – for all. Through its current Giving Hope Campaign, Atrium Health Foundation is supporting Atrium Health’s efforts to create the learning health system of the future by building healthy communities, outstanding education programs, preeminent research, and exemplary facilities.
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 820 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has pledged $200 million in support of more than 1,100 childhood cancer research grants.