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Hyundai Motor commended by US Congress for childhood anti-cancer campaign

September 22, 2015

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) — Hyundai Motor, South Korea’s largest automaker, has been officially commended by the U.S. Congress for its 17-year-long campaign to raise awareness of childhood cancer and finance the development of medicine and treatment.

The Congressional Pediatric Cancer Caucus, a grouping of 99 congressmen concerned about pediatric cancer, submitted a statement praising Hyundai’s “Hope on Wheels” fund-raising program and the statement was officially included in the congressional record.

The automaker launched the anti-cancer campaign in 1998, in which US$14 is raised every time a new Hyundai vehicle is sold. Accumulated donations made under the program have exceeded $100 million, company officials said.

“Hyundai Hope on Wheels is leading the way with its commitment to cancer research … Hope on Wheels has been investing in pediatric cancer research since 1998, and this month they will surpass $100 million in lifetime funding to this critical cause,” the statement said.

“I express my most heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to everyone at Hyundai who has made this wonderful investment in our children a powerful reality,” it said. The statement, known as “Extensions of Remarks,” was made in the name of Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA).

On Friday, the caucus held its annual meeting and Hyundai was invited for the fifth consecutive year. During the event, Kelly, a former Hyundai dealer, awarded a framed statement to Dave Zuchowski, CEO of Hyundai Motor America.

Also in attendance were Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Terri Sewell (D-AL).

“I want to thank Hyundai,” McCaul said during the event. “A hundred million dollars. That’s more than probably Congress has done. It’s certainly the most largest we received from a private sector.

“These are really dollars that will go to a great worthy cause and I can’t think of one more worthy than our children,” he said. “I need to go buy a Hyundai, I guess. I have triplets and when they turn 16, they get a car. So, I guess we know which one they’re going to get.”