Award to advance Supportive Medicine within the Torrey Hemby Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders 

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 12, 2023 – Hyundai Hope On Wheels® (HHOW), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by Hyundai Motor America and its more than 820 U.S. dealers, announces a $100,000 Hyundai Impact Grant awarded to Atrium Health Levine Children’s to advance integrative oncology services provided to patients being treated in the Torrey Hemby Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders. The award was presented to Dr. Jennifer Pope, director of supportive medicine at Levine Children’s.

Launched in 1998, HHOW is one of the longest-running corporate social responsibility efforts in the automotive industry. In recognition of the organization’s 25th anniversary, HHOW’s Impact Grant presented to Atrium Health Levine Children’s is one of $25 million in research grants made this year by HHOW to hospitals and research institutions nationwide, its largest donation in a single year. To date, HHOW has donated over $1 million in support of Atrium Health Levine Children’s pediatric oncology and blood disorders program.

Under the leadership of Dr. Pope – the Greater Charlotte area’s only integrative oncologist and a passionate advocate for providing children with the care they deserve in the best possible environment – Atrium Health Levine Children’s Supportive Medicine is an all-encompassing program, supporting patients’ medical, psychological, and emotional needs. The HHOW Impact Grant will allow Dr. Pope and her colleagues to improve patient experience by offering the most comprehensive integrative oncology services and supportive modalities available to patients diagnosed with childhood cancers and blood disorders.  

“I am grateful for Hyundai’s decades-long commitment to improving the lives of children diagnosed with cancer,” said Dr. Pope, whose work centers around supporting the comprehensive needs of patients during treatment and into survivorship. “Generous community supporters like Hyundai Hope On Wheels allow our support services to keep pace with the increasing complexity of modern cancer care.” 

Mia (pictured left with Dr. Pope) is a cancer survivor and patient of Levine Children’s. Together, she and her sisters were invited to participate in the Hyundai Hope On Wheels Handprint Ceremony. Their colorful handprints will be added to the Hyundai Hope vehicle, which travels the nation visiting other children’s hospitals, symbolizing the fight against pediatric cancer and hope for a cure.

“Hyundai Hope On Wheels is pleased to partner with the nation’s top hospitals and institutions like Levine Children’s Hospital to fund lifesaving research and ultimately improve outcomes, treatments, and provide support for children battling cancer,” says John Guastaferro, executive director of Hyundai Hope On Wheels. “As we celebrate 25 years, we are more grateful than ever for the dedication of our hospital partners to bring hope, spread awareness and continue in this fight against pediatric cancer.” 

This year, Hyundai Hope On Wheels is set to surpass 1,300 research and programmatic grants to over 175 hospital and research institutions over its 25-year history, bringing the organization’s total giving to $225 million since its inception. To celebrate the milestone, Hyundai Hope On Wheels launched its “HOPE Defined” social media campaign, which will spotlight what Hope means to members of the pediatric cancer community and culminate through various celebrations in September, National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  

Visit HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org to learn more about Hyundai Hope On Wheels Impact Grant recipients and the organization’s 25th anniversary celebrations. 

 

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 market, 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. 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.

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