In a show of community partnership, representatives from Sheehy Hyundai of Waldorf traveled to University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata on July 7 to deliver 350 plush teddy bears and a $2,000 check to the Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation.
The contribution, made through the national Hyundai Hope on Wheels program, seeks to provide both immediate comfort and direct financial support to children and families in Southern Maryland who are navigating childhood cancer.
Max Cho, general manager of Sheehy Hyundai of Waldorf, said the visit reflects the dealership’s deep ties to the area it serves. “We’re proud to partner with Hyundai Hope on Wheels and the Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation to support children and families in our community,” Cho said. “Providing teddy bears for young patients and making a financial contribution to the Foundation reflects our ongoing commitment to giving back and supporting organizations that make a meaningful difference throughout Southern Maryland.”
J. Caprice Brown, executive director of the Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation, accepted the gifts on behalf of the hospital and emphasized their dual impact. “The support we receive from partners like Sheehy Hyundai of Waldorf and Hyundai Hope on Wheels helps make a meaningful difference for the children and families we serve,” Brown said. “The teddy bears provide comfort during what can be an incredibly difficult time, while the financial contribution strengthens the programs and services that support our pediatric patients. We are sincerely grateful for this generous support and shared commitment to our community.”
Hyundai Hope on Wheels was founded in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by Hyundai Motor America and more than 855 participating U.S. dealers. A percentage of proceeds from every new Hyundai vehicle sold at those dealerships funds the program. As of 2026 the initiative has surpassed $303 million in lifetime giving to pediatric cancer research and patient care. This year it plans to award more than $29 million in new grants. The program has backed more than 1,500 research and programmatic grants at over 175 hospitals and institutions, directly impacting more than 40,000 children nationwide.
Childhood cancer remains a profound challenge. A child in the United States receives a cancer diagnosis every 36 minutes. While overall survival rates have improved from roughly 75 percent in the late 1990s to about 85 percent today, private philanthropy continues to play an essential role because federal funding for pediatric cancer research represents only a small fraction of total cancer research dollars.
For families in Charles County and across Southern Maryland, the geography of specialized care adds another layer of difficulty. Complex pediatric oncology treatment is typically provided at larger University of Maryland Medical System facilities, such as the Golisano Children’s Hospital in Baltimore. Charles Regional Medical Center, part of that same system, delivers important local pediatric services including well-child visits, chronic condition management, and initial care close to home. The Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation works to strengthen those local resources so families do not have to travel for every aspect of support.
Sheehy Auto Stores, parent company of the Waldorf Hyundai dealership, has operated in the Mid-Atlantic since 1966 and now includes more than two dozen dealerships across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Through its Sheehy Cares initiative the company contributed more than $1 million in 2025 alone in financial support, in-kind donations, and volunteer hours to hospitals, schools, nonprofits, and community organizations. The Waldorf store’s participation in Hope on Wheels and its direct hospital visit extend that long-standing regional commitment into Charles County, where the dealership serves residents every day.
The 350 teddy bears delivered during the July 7 visit serve a practical purpose in pediatric settings. Comfort items such as stuffed animals frequently help reduce anxiety, provide a sense of security, and create small moments of normalcy during long hospital stays, procedures, or treatment days. Hospital staff and foundation leaders received the bears alongside the check, which will directly bolster programs and services for pediatric patients at the La Plata facility.
This year’s visit was one of two hospital stops the Sheehy team made as part of the Hope on Wheels program. It illustrates how a national corporate initiative translates into tangible local action—linking everyday vehicle purchases at the Crain Highway dealership to meaningful support for young patients and families in the community.
