COSTA MESA, Calif. -

Hyundai Motor America and its nonprofit pediatric cancer organization, Hyundai Hope On Wheels, revealed that it will be presenting CHOC Children’s with the second installment of a $10 million gift committed last year.

To commemorate this event for the Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children’s, Hope On Wheels will host its “signature Handprint Ceremony” with Orange County-area children battling pediatric cancer, officials noted.

"This Handprint Ceremony will capture the colorful handprints of the brave children receiving pediatric cancer treatment at CHOC Children’s as a symbol of hope for all the children battling this disease nationwide. Every Handprint Ceremony celebrates the courageous lives of the children faced with cancer and brings our community of supporters together," officials explained.

Commenting on the news, John Krafcik, president and chief executive officer of Hyundai Motor America, said, "As we continue to strengthen our longstanding relationship with CHOC Children’s, one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation, we look forward to seeing results in the coming years.

"Funding innovative research programs that will have a real impact on fighting this deadly disease is our mission at Hyundai, and our partnership with CHOC Children’s is critical in that goal,” he continued.

Furthermore, this ceremony, which will be attended by Hope On Wheels representatives, families, staff and doctors from the hospital, will feature a performance by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, Calif., today.

The orchestra will be led by Maestro Myung-Whun Chung, officials shared.

Delving into the background of the gift, Hope On Wheels’ second installment of $2 million to CHOC Children’s is part of a 5-year, $10 million grant donation, officials noted — the “largest corporate gift in CHOC Children’s history,” they went on to share.

And just what are these funds being used for?

“Funds from Hope On Wheels are being used for groundbreaking pediatric cancer research at the Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children’s, using the latest advances in genomic medicine to provide more effective, individualized treatment for children afflicted with this disease,” officials explained.

Commenting on the news and reasearch, Dr. Leonard Sender, director of the Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children’s, said, "I am really excited to see what the data is going to reveal.

"We are now on our way to realizing the initial goal of the Hyundai Cancer Institute Genomic Research Program — providing pediatric oncologists with information that will allow them to make better decisions about targeted, precision therapy in patients with refractory or recurrent cancer,” Sender continued.

And this isn’t all that the OEM has set up for this year when it comes to funding cancer research.  

This year, Hope On Wheels will donate an additional $12 million to children’s hospitals nationwide for pediatric cancer research through its signature Hyundai Scholar Grant and Hyundai Hope Grant awards, the company explained.

Moreover, by the end of 2012, Hope On Wheels will surpass $57 million in total donations to childhood cancer research since the program began 14 years ago. 

“Additional activities for 2012 will include a national grant donation tour, nationwide fund-raising 5K race series, an online social media campaign and a partnership with the Childhood Cancer Congressional Caucus,” officials noted. 

“For the third consecutive year, during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, Hope On Wheels will conduct a comprehensive campaign to raise greater awareness about pediatric cancer and the need to fund critical research to find a cure,” the company concluded.