Published on Sept. 1, 2026
To kick off Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month, the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Institute at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital participated in the Hyundai Hope on Wheels event where the team received a $100,000 Impact Grant from, Hyundai Motor America. This impact grant will support multidisciplinary pediatric cancer care initiatives that help ensure children, adolescents and young adults receive highly coordinated, personalized treatment and support throughout their cancer journey.
This marks the fourth consecutive year Hyundai Hope on Wheels has awarded the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Institute a $100,000 Impact Grant. Combined with previous Hyundai Hope on Wheels grants and support, Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital has received a total of $665,000 in funding from Hyundai since 2023. This year's grant will strengthen collaborative treatment-planning reviews and comprehensive care that bring together specialists from across disciplines to develop personalized treatment strategies for each child.
"We are deeply grateful to Hyundai Hope on Wheels for its continued partnership and commitment to children and families facing cancer and serious blood disorders," said Lara Khouri, chief executive officer, Miller Children's & Women's Hospital. "This generous support helps advance the research, innovation and patient and family centered care that are at the heart of our mission and gives hope to the children and families we serve every day."
Every child's diagnosis, treatment plan and supportive care needs are unique. Through multidisciplinary treatment-planning reviews, experts from pediatric oncology, hematology, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, social work and other specialties collaborate to evaluate each patient's needs and develop personalized care plans. This coordinated approach helps ensure children receive the highest quality care while providing reassurance and support to families navigating a cancer diagnosis.
"Every child with cancer deserves care that is not only advanced and effective but also delivered with the highest level of precision and compassion," said Bhavita Patel, M.D., hematologist/oncologist, Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Institute, Miller Children's & Women's Hospital. "One of the greatest privileges of our work is being able to offer hope to children and families during an incredibly challenging time. This grant strengthens our multidisciplinary approach to care by supporting collaborative treatment-planning reviews that allow experts from across specialties to come together and determine the best path forward for each child."
To celebrate the grant, Hyundai Hope on Wheels hosted its signature Handprint Ceremony, where patients at the Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Institute placed colorful handprints on a new Hyundai vehicle. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Wade Meckler joined patients and families for the celebration. The vehicle will travel across the country, sharing their stories of resilience, courage and hope.
The Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Institute is one of only 10 children’s hospitals in the nation with full accreditation from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. The Institute provides comprehensive care to children with cancer, sickle cell disease, and other serious blood disorders.
