Hyundai Donates 1,000 Winter Coats to Detroit Children in Conjunction with 15th Annual Urban Wheel Awards and Green Car Technology Show
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DETROIT--In the midst of a very cold winter and in a struggling economic climate, Hyundai Motor America is coming to the aid of Detroit youth with a practical donation of 1,000 winter coats. For the second year in a row, Hyundai is working with Focus: HOPE, a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization in Detroit. Hyundai will distribute new coats to the children, families and program participants of The HOPE Village Initiative and will also donate $10,000 to Focus: HOPE, enabling them to maintain productivity within the community during the inclement winter weather in the southeast Michigan region.
A donation event will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 7, 2010 at Focus: HOPE, located at 1355 Oakman Blvd in Detroit, Michigan. The event is just one part of Hyundai's commitment to the Detroit community.
Hyundai and its local dealers will also donate $50,000 to the Children's Hospital of Michigan on January 6th as part of its Hope on Wheels philanthropic effort, dedicated to helping kids fight cancer. This is the third time that Children's Hospital of Michigan will receive a donation from Hyundai Hope on Wheels. Now entering its 13th year, Hyundai Hope on Wheels has awarded $23 million to help fight pediatric cancer since the program began, and in 2011 plans to donate at least $10 million to children's hospitals across the U.S. toward finding a cure for the disease.
In addition, Hyundai will be a platinum level sponsor at the 15th Annual Urban Wheel Awards (UWA) and Green Car and Technology Exhibit, which includes a Green Career workshop for students at 1pm, on January 9, 2011. Hyundai will present the Focus Hope contribution to the more than 1,500 event attendees at 7pm, during the awards gala. The UWA is hosted by the Emerging Diversity Education Fund and Decisive Media and held during the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
"Hyundai is dedicated to helping build stronger communities and families through our outreach and philanthropic programs,�?? said Zafar Brooks, director of government relations and diversity outreach, Hyundai Motor America. "Providing winter coats to children and families of The HOPE Village Initiative is just one example of Hyundai's efforts to improve the lives of people in the communities in which we live and work. We are proud to partner with the Urban Wheel Awards Show in this important effort."
Modeled after the Harlem Children's Zone, The HOPE Village Initiative is a major catalyst for change in the neighborhoods immediately around Focus: HOPE. A broad based Focus: HOPE consortium of residents, community leaders, businesses, and others is leading the effort to make this neighborhood the most desirable place to live, work, and raise a family. The Hope Village Initiative target area consists of five neighborhoods around Focus: HOPE's main campus on Oakman Boulevard in Detroit.
"Focus: HOPE is proud to again partner with Hyundai for a second year to provide the gift of warm coats to residents in the community as a part of our HOPE Village Initiative. This partnership enables us to continue to take intelligent and practical action to address a critical need for those we serve," said William Jones, CEO of Focus: HOPE.
Focus: HOPE will soon announce a Coat Distribution Day for targeted children, families and Focus: HOPE program participants meeting income guidelines in need of winter coats. Coats will be made available by coming to any of the three Focus: HOPE food center locations. Coats will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, with a limit of one coat per person.
Recipients will be identified by the Focus: HOPE Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Center for Children, and newly adopted Schools: Glazer and Robeson Academy. Another targeted population will be the student/candidates enrolled in the Focus: HOPE Workforce Development Training/Internship Programs. These students require proper coats during the winter months for attendance at job interviews, business and community networking events and career coaching sessions with community leaders.
"We are thankful that Hyundai chose to donate coats to Detroit children the weekend of the 15th Annual Urban Wheel Awards Show," said Randi Payton, CEO and president of Decisive Media. "In addition to recognizing the contribution of minorities in the auto industry, we are committed to giving back, through scholarships, internships and other community outreach programs. Hyundai stepped up and made this coat donation possible, showing that the auto industry continues to be a big player in helping our communities grow."
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000 mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty and 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.
Journalists are invited to visit our news media web site: www.hyundainews.com and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/Hyundai
ABOUT THE URBAN WHEEL AWARDS
The 15th Annual Urban Wheel Awards is a world-class awards show, held during the North American International Auto Show. The awards promotes inclusion in the nation's largest auto show and brings together celebrities, automotive executives, international media, government representatives and the multicultural community to celebrate inclusion in the automotive industry. The Urban Wheel Awards promotes awareness of their inclusion and honors the companies and individuals who have made progress toward embracing this reality. The daylong event begins with a green-ribbon cutting ceremony and car show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by a celebrity green carpet and VIP reception at 5 p.m. The Urban Wheel Awards, which begins at 7 p.m., will honor four companies for leadership in environmental and fuel-efficient technologies. Winners of the Urban Car, Urban Truck, and Urban Green Vehicle of the Year awards will also be honored along with the Minority Supplier, Dealer, and Executive of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and the Pioneer of the Year awards. Visit www.decisivemagazine.com for more information.
