Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Receives $100,000 Grant for Cancer Center

Hyundai ‘Hope on Wheels’ Grant to Fund New Resource and Activity Center

Falls Church, VA- (September 3, 2010) – Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children received a $100,000 grant from Hyundai Motor America for its Hematology/Oncology program. The hospital was one of 68 organizations awarded a Hope Grant as part of the “Hyundai Gives Hope on Wheels” campaign.

L-R: Niccole Piquet, MD, Pediatric Hematolgy/Oncology; Betsey Snow, RN, Senior Director, Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children; Ken Bloech, General Manager, Southern Region, Hyundai Motor America; Monica Bartlett, RN, Patient Care Director, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology; Kevin Riley, Dealer Principal, Alexandria Hyundai, Alexandria, VA; Joan Fletcher, Chair, Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Development Committee; David Goldberg, Administrator, Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children

The funds will allow the hospital to develop the “Hyundai Hope Center,” a dedicated on-site resource and activity center for patients and their families. The Center will be a learning environment with a meditative ambience where families can access information, gain support and empower themselves with knowledge. In addition, patients will have virtual access to the Center at the bedside via an online support tool. Hospital staff created the plans for the Center and developed the idea based on input from patients and families.

“We’re very excited to be awarded this grant in order to build a special center for families who are trying to deal with the unknowns of cancer,” said David Goldberg, Administrator, Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children. “We’re proud our hospital is part of Hyundai’s national program to fight childhood cancer, and thanks to Hyundai’s generosity, we’ll be able to create a place where families can gain a better understanding of what’s happening to their child during what can be a very scary time.”

Ken Bloech, General Manager, Southern Region, Hyundai Motor America, presented the check to the hospital’s pediatric hematology/oncology team at a special ceremony on Wednesday, Sept.1.

“We love taking on big challenges at Hyundai,” said John Krafcik, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor America, “and we can think of no more worthy challenge than finding a cure for all forms of pediatric cancer.”

Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children has a 20-bed pediatric hematology/oncology inpatient unit and a full-service outpatient clinic. The hospital’s family-centered model of clinical excellence is administered by a team of professionals who provide the most progressive clinical treatments to care for multiple types of cancers, including leukemia, musculoskeletal tumors and neurological cancers.

About Hyundai Hope on Wheels:
Hyundai Hope on Wheels™ is the united effort of more than 800 Hyundai dealers across the U.S. to raise awareness about childhood cancer and celebrate the lives of children battling the disease. By the end of 2010, Hope on Wheels will have awarded more than $23 million dollars to children’s hospitals and non-profit organizations across the U.S. to support the fight against childhood cancer.

About Inova Health System:
Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.