Hyundai Hands-On Hope Contest Goes Viral
February 24, 2026
One of the most inspiring and buzzworthy highlights of the Washington, DC Auto Show closing weekend was the Hyundai HandsOn Hope Contest, part of the Hyundai Hope on Wheels initiative to support pediatric cancer research. After an intense 44-hour endurance challenge, Siobhan Copeland of Children’s National Hospital emerged as the winner, taking home a new 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid and securing a $60,000 research grant for her institution, while Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center received a $40,000 grant, bringing the total awarded at the event to $100,000.
The contest also captured widespread public attention on social media thanks to contestant Rose Haley, whose TikTok account created to document her Hands-On Hope experience went viral, with several videos surpassing 1 million views and helping amplify nationwide awareness of the cause. This blend of community engagement, charitable impact, and digital-era storytelling underscored the Auto Show’s role not only as an automotive showcase, but as a platform for meaningful local and regional impact.