Hyundai Hope on Wheels® donates $100,000 to support pediatric cancer program at Manning Family Children’s

Written By Alicia Vial

In celebration, patients handprinted the Hyundai Hope On Wheels® vehicle that is traveling the nation leading up to and throughout National Pediatric Cancer Awareness month

NEW ORLEANS – Manning Family Children’s is proud to announce a $100,000 Impact Award from Hyundai Hope On Wheels® that will support the more than 2,000 children from across Louisiana and the Gulf South who are cared for by the hospital’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders each year.

“Receiving the cancer diagnosis of a child is completely life altering,” says Manning Family Children’s President and CEO, Lucio A. Fragoso. “Our Hematology Oncology team delivers expert and lifesaving care while also creating an environment of hope, support and comfort for children receiving treatment for cancer or blood disorders and their families. Most of our children spend months, even years, in treatment with us here at Manning Family Children’s – becoming a part of our extended family. The generous grant from Hyundai Hope On Wheels® helps us strengthen their care and experience.”

The Impact Award will be used to provide assistance to families facing financial burden, helping to cover the cost of necessities like food, medication and housing and helping to amplify the experience of patients and families who are receiving care in the hospital.                                                          

"Hyundai Hope on Wheels is honored to support esteemed hospitals and institutions such as the Manning Family Children's to fund research that fosters innovation and medical advancements for pediatric cancer patients," states John Guastaferro, executive director, Hyundai Hope on Wheels. "We are grateful for the unwavering dedication and life-saving efforts that will bring us closer to a world without childhood cancer.”

Following the donation presentation, patients were invited to leave painted handprints on a Hyundai vehicle that will travel the nation throughout September, during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, while the organization awards $27 million in grants to children’s hospitals across the country.

The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Manning Family Children’s provides expert care, treatment and transplantation for children with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, hemophilia and other childhood cancers and blood disorders, regardless of the family’s ability to pay. Manning Family Children’s is the only accredited pediatric facility in the state, performing bone marrow transplants, CAR-T Cell Therapy, and newly-approved gene therapy for treatment of severe forms of Sickle Cell Disease. Children’s is also actively conducting cancer research on therapies at the forefront of medicine. The center has the largest, most experienced group of pediatric cancer specialists in the region, staffed by faculty from LSU Health New Orleans and Tulane Pediatrics.

For 70 years, Manning Family Children’s has proudly served as Louisiana’s only, freestanding, comprehensive children’s hospital with more than 600 pediatric-trained providers and 3,000 employees solely dedicated to the care of kids. In addition to comprehensive services offered at its main campus in New Orleans, Children’s operates a robust network of more than 30 satellite locations, pediatric affiliations across Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and robust and long- community programs designed to meet the health needs of the diverse communities it serves. At the heart of its mission, Manning Family Children’s is committed to delivering expert care for every child, every time – regardless of the family’s ability to pay.  Learn more at manningchildrens.org/cancer.

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About Manning Family Children’s:
Manning Family Children’s is a 263-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Manning Family Children’s offers a comprehensive array of specialized pediatric services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, Children’s operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Children’s offers primary care at 17 convenient locations, along with a network of statewide pediatric affiliations. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, East Jefferson General Hospital, Lakeview Hospital, and Lakeside Hospital. Learn more at manningchildren’s.org.  

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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