On May 10, 2011 Hyundai Motor America and its nonprofit organization, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, announced a $10 million gift to CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange County, California. The gift was the largest corporate gift in the hospital’s history, and will be used to fund groundbreaking pediatric cancer research, using the latest advances in genomic medicine to provide more effective, individualized treatment for children afflicted with this disease. CHOC Children’s is recognizing this gift by naming its cancer center of excellence the Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children’s.

In honor of this gift, Hyundai Hope on Wheels and CHOC Children’s held two events on May 10, 2011. The first, an afternoon ceremony at CHOC Children’s, served as an opportunity for Hyundai CEO John Krafcik to tour the hospital with chief oncologist Dr. Sender and CHOC’s President and CEO, Kimberly Cripe. KABC-TV and the Orange County Register were also in attendance.

That evening, a champagne reception was held to officially unveil the donation and Hyundai Cancer Institute to the community at large. Held at The Island Hotel in Newport Beach, nearly 175 attendees listened to speakers including John Krafcik, Kimberly Cripe, Dr. Sender, HMA Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Jerry Flannery, Oscar Leeser and former Hope on Wheels Youth Ambassador and CHOC patient, Sammy Heim.