Hyundai Motor America and Soccer for Hope Team Up to 'Kick' Pediatric Cancer Donating $45,000 to Hospitals Across the U.S.

San Diego's Ecke Y.M.C.A Hosts First of Nine Local Tournaments in the 2005 Hyundai Cup World Soccer Open

SAN DIEGO, July 8 -- Hyundai Motor America will kick off the 2005 Hyundai Cup World Soccer Open at Ecke Y.M.C.A in San Diego tomorrow. Hyundai and its partner Soccer for Hope, a Southern California-based non-profit organization dedicated to bringing hope to children with life-threatening diseases, are teaming up to raise $5,000 for pediatric cancer research at Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego. With nine Hyundai Cup tournaments to play, Hyundai and Soccer for Hope will raise $45,000 for pediatric cancer research nationwide before the tournaments conclude in November.

"Hyundai has a very competitive spirit which takes on many forms -- from sponsoring the Hyundai Cup, to helping children win their fight against cancer," said Bob Cosmai, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. "We wish all teams the best of luck and thank them for helping us support children across the nation."

During the 2005 Hyundai Cup, 128 teams from around the country will compete for eight berths in the Hyundai Cup National Championships in Orlando, Fla. One U.S. team will advance to the Championship World Finals in Germany during the 2006 FIFA World Championship matches sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company. After each tournament, Soccer for Hope will conduct clinics where children will have the opportunity to play soccer with stars from local teams.

The Hyundai Cup tournaments will take place in the following cities and benefit the listed hospitals:

   *  San Diego, benefiting Children's Hospital and Health Center in
      San Diego
   *  Denver, benefiting the Children's Hospital, Denver
   *  Chicago, benefiting the Children's Memorial Hospital
   *  Miami, benefiting Miami Children's Hospital
   *  Los Angeles, benefiting the Children's Hospital of Orange County
   *  Cleveland, benefiting Rainbow Babies & Cleveland Children's Hospital
   *  Washington, D.C., benefiting Children's Hospital Washington, D.C.
   *  Portland, Ore., benefiting the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital
   *  Finals in Orlando, Fla., benefiting the City of Hope Medical Center
      in Duarte, Calif.

Since 1997, Hyundai Motor America has been dedicated to helping children and families fight pediatric cancer at a national level. Continuing its long-time support of pediatric cancer research and treatment, Hyundai Motor America's entire dealer network has united to raise money for cancer research hospitals across the country. Hyundai and its dealers have donated more than $5 million to help fight pediatric cancer.

Hyundai Motor America, based in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are distributed in the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 665 dealerships nationwide.