Tampa General Hospital Awarded Hyundai Hope On Wheels Grants Fourth Year
Published: Jul 14, 2026
The grants will install an interactive digital wall in the Greg & Meredith Balasco Day Hospital and support fertility preservation services for young cancer patients.
Tampa, FL (July 14, 2026) – The Tampa General Hospital Foundation has received another combined $200,000 impact grant and regional grant from Hyundai Hope on Wheels to support the academic health system’s pediatric oncology program in the fight against childhood cancer. The grants were announced Tuesday during a ceremony attended by system leadership, patients and physicians.
The impact grant will enable the Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH to install an Ouva Wall in the soon-to-be renovated Greg & Meredith Balasco Day Hospital, where pediatric oncology patients receive chemotherapy, infusions and ongoing treatment. The interactive digital wall transforms clinical spaces into immersive environments where children can play games, create art and engage in therapeutic activities through touch and movement.
The regional grant will support fertility preservation services, which provide critical financial assistance to pediatric oncology patients and families navigating the difficult decisions that accompany a cancer diagnosis.
Balasco, owner of Lakeland Hyundai, matches the grants annually through the Balasco Family Foundation.
“These grants will have a meaningful impact on children and families facing some of life’s most difficult challenges,” said Sarah Frahn, vice president of Women and Children’s Services at TGH. “By bringing innovative, interactive experiences into the Greg & Meredith Balasco Day Hospital and expanding access to fertility preservation services, we are helping support our patients’ emotional well-being today while protecting important opportunities for their future.”
Dr. Andrew Galligan, division chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at USF Health, said the interactive element in the day hospital will provide a welcome distraction.
“The Ouva Wall will help transform the treatment experience for children receiving cancer care by providing opportunities for play, creativity and movement,” said Dr. Galligan. "By reducing anxiety and creating moments of joy during lengthy treatments, it supports both patients and their families.”
Hyundai Hope on Wheels helps kids fight cancer by raising awareness and funding research. Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH is at the forefront of that fight in West Central Florida. This mission is made possible in part by the ongoing support of the Hyundai Hope on Wheels.
“Advancing pediatric cancer research requires bold science and sustained commitment,” said John Guastaferro, executive director of Hyundai Hope on Wheels. “We are deeply grateful to Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH and its doctors and researchers whose dedication drives progress to the children and families who need it most.”
This is the fourth year that Tampa General has received these grants, which now total $800,000.
“We are deeply thankful to Hyundai Hope on Wheels and to Greg Balasco for helping bring these transformative resources to our pediatric cancer program,” said Frann Leppla, executive vice president of Tampa General and president of the TGH Foundation. “From creating moments of joy during treatment to supporting long-term quality of life, these grants will make a lasting difference for children and families facing cancer.”