Hyundai Hope on Wheels Announces 2026 Grant Award Winners

PR Newswire

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 28, 2026

Hyundai Hope on Wheels marks 28 years of progress in the fight against childhood cancer
98 grants awarded to support pioneering research and care across the U.S.
Lifetime giving exceeds $303 million, advancing hope for children and families nationwide

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hyundai Hope on Wheels®, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by Hyundai Motor America and more than 855 U.S. dealers, today announced the recipients of 98 pediatric cancer research and program grants in 2026. With this year’s funding, the organization has surpassed $303 million in lifetime giving and has supported more than 1,600 grants at over 175 hospitals and research institutions since its founding in 1998. As one of the nation’s leading nonprofit funders of pediatric cancer research, Hyundai Hope on Wheels continues to invest in innovative research, treatment advancements, and survivorship programs that improve outcomes for children with cancer.

Hyundai Hope on Wheels National Youth Ambassador, Isabella Franco-Capps, at a Handprint Ceremony at Memorial Health Dwaine and Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah in Savannah, Ga. on Sept. 10, 2026. (Photo/Hyundai)

“Every child deserves the chance to grow up cancer-free, and every breakthrough brings us one step closer to that future,” said John Guastaferro, executive director, Hyundai Hope on Wheels. “Together with Hyundai dealers, researchers, physicians, and supporters, we are accelerating discoveries, strengthening support for families, and turning hope into progress for children facing cancer.”

For 28 years, Hyundai Hope on Wheels has helped advance pediatric cancer research and care, positively impacting more than 40,000 children and their families. This year’s 98 grants will support innovative research, emerging investigators, clinical programs, and patient and family services at eligible Children’s Oncology Group (COG) member institutions. Grant categories include:

Hyundai Scholar Hope Grant ($400,000): A two-year grant that supports translational research with the potential to improve treatments and outcomes for children with cancer.
Hyundai Young Investigator Grant ($300,000): A two-year grant that is awarded to promising early-career researchers advancing the understanding of childhood cancer.
Hyundai Impact Grant ($100,000): An annual grant that supports innovative research, clinical programs, and patient and family support initiatives in pediatric oncology.

Grant recipients are selected from eligible COG member institutions through a rigorous review process led by an independent Medical Advisory Committee of pediatric oncology experts. Awardees are recognized through Hyundai Hope on Wheels’ signature Handprint Ceremonies, where children affected by cancer, survivors, families, researchers, physicians, and Hyundai representatives place colorful handprints on a Hyundai vehicle. The handprints symbolize hope, resilience and a collective commitment to ending childhood cancer.

During National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Hyundai Hope on Wheels commemorated 28 years of impact in Washington, D.C., bringing together Hyundai executives, dealers, members of Congress, researchers, physicians, survivors and families to recognize continued progress in the fight against childhood cancer.

During the annual gala, Hyundai Motor America unveiled The Mark of a Warrior, a new national campaign inspired by the handprints that have become synonymous with Hyundai Hope on Wheels. The campaign shines a light on the determination of children facing cancer and the families who stand beside them every step of the way. Inspired by the organization’s iconic handprints, the campaign elevates a longstanding symbol of hope into a powerful call to action, encouraging supporters nationwide to help bring every warrior home. The week also included a Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill and a Survivorship Summit dedicated to supporting the long-term health and well-being of childhood cancer survivors, alongside opportunities to showcase the organization’s growing global impact.

2026 Scholar Hope Grant Winners ($400,000)

Institution	City	State
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital	Ann Arbor	MI
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc.	Atlanta	GA
Children’s Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus	Aurora	CO
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles	Los Angeles	CA
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia	Philadelphia	PA
City of Hope Children’s Cancer Center	Duarte	CA
Cleveland Clinic Children’s	Cleveland	OH
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute	Boston	MA
Duke University School of Medicine	Durham	NC
Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute – UT Health San Antonio	San Antonio	TX
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center	Baltimore	MD
M Health Fairview	Minneapolis	MN
Mayo Clinic	Rochester	MN
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)	New York	NY
Nationwide Children’s Hospital	Columbus	OH
Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital	Hershey	PA
Rady Children’s Hospital	San Diego	CA
Seattle Children’s Hospital	Seattle	WA
St. Louis Children’s	Saint Louis	MO
Texas Children’s Hospital	Houston	TX
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center	Houston	TX
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital	San Francisco	CA
Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia	Augusta	GA

2026 Young Investigator Grant Winners ($300,000)

Institution	City	State
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago	Chicago	IL
Children’s Medical Center Dallas	Dallas	TX
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc.	Atlanta	GA
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles	Los Angeles	CA
Children’s Hospital of Orange County – CHOC	Orange	CA
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia	Philadelphia	PA
Children’s National	Washington	DC
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute	Boston	MA
Duke Children’s	Durham	NC
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine	Baltimore	MD
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford	Palo Alto	CA
M Health Fairview	Minneapolis	MN
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)	New York	NY
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt	Nashville	TN
Nationwide Children’s Hospital	Columbus	OH
Riley Children’s Health	Indianapolis	IN
Seattle Children’s Hospital	Seattle	WA
Texas Children’s Hospital	Houston	TX
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center	Houston	TX
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital	San Francisco	CA
UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital	Cleveland	OH
Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital	New Haven	CT

2026 Impact Grant Winners ($100,000)

Institution	City	State
Arkansas Children’s Hospital	Little Rock	AR
Atrium Levine Children’s Hospital	Charlotte	NC
Baystate Medical Center	Springfield	MA
Children’s of Alabama	Birmingham	AL
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU	Richmond	VA
Children’s Hospital Colorado Springs	Colorado Springs	CO
Children’s Hospital of The Kings Daughters	Norfolk	VA
Children’s Hospital of OC (CHOC)	Orange	CA
Children’s Mercy Kansas City	Kansas City	MO
Children’s Research Institute (CNMC)	Washington	DC
Children’s Wisconsin – Milwaukee Campus	Milwaukee	WI
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center	Cincinnati	OH
City of Hope Children’s Cancer Center	Duarte	CA
Banner Children’s Diamond Children’s Medical Center	Tucson	AZ
El Paso Children’s Hospital	El Paso	TX
Georgetown University	Washington	DC
Golisano Children’s Hospital at UK	Lexington	KY
Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital	Salt Lake City	UT
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital	Hollywood	FL
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation	St. Petersburg	FL
Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital	Hackensack	NJ
Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children	Honolulu	HI
Maine Children’s Cancer Program	Scarborough	ME
Manning Family Children’s	New Orleans	LA
Massachusetts General Hospital	Boston	MA
Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA	Los Angeles	CA
Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital	Long Beach	CA
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt	Nashville	TN
MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital	Charleston	SC
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital	Miami	FL
Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health	Oklahoma City	OK
Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children	Orlando	FL
Peyton Manning Children’s Hosp At Ascension St. Vincent	Indianapolis	IN
Phoenix Children’s Hospital	Phoenix	AZ
Rady Children’s Hospital	San Diego	CA
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center	Buffalo	NY
St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital	Tampa	FL
St. Louis Children’s	Saint Louis	MO
Tampa General Hospital	Tampa	FL
The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore	Bronx	NY
The Melodies Center at The Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center	Albany	NY
Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital	Hershey	PA
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center	Sacramento	CA
UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital	Chicago	IL
UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital	Cleveland	OH
UNC Children’s Hospital	Chapel Hill	NC
UNM Children’s Hospital	Albuquerque	NM
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh	PA
USA Health, Children’s and Women’s Hospital	Mobile	AL
Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute – UT Health San Antonio	San Antonio	TX
Vannie E. Cook Children’s Clinic	McAllen	TX
WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s	Morgantown	WV
Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital	New Haven	CT

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 855 U.S. dealers. In 2026, Hyundai Hope on Wheels will reach a lifetime donation total of $303 million in support of more than 1,600 childhood cancer research grants to over 175 hospitals and research institutions.

A child places his handprint on a Hyundai vehicle at a Handprint Ceremony at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa, Fla. on July 14, 2026. (Photo/Hyundai)

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