Purme Foundation wins HD Hyundai's grand prize

A child receives robot-assisted rehabilitation at a hospital run by the Purme Foundation in this file photo. Courtesy of HD Hyundai By Lee Min-hyung HD Hyundai has presented the grand prize at its annual honorary awards, known as the HD Hyundai Honor Awards, to the Purme Foundation, recognizing the nonprofit for its 20 years of dedication to supporting the rehabilitation of people with disabilities, the company said Sunday. The HD Hyundai Honor Awards was established last year by the company’s charitable arm, the HD Hyundai 1% Nanum Foundation, to amplify the positive social impact of the award recipients.

The awards are presented in three categories: Grand Prize Award, Excellence Award and 1% Nanum Award. The Grand Prize includes a cash prize of 150 million won ($106,000) for the recipient. Established in 2005, the Purme Foundation has been actively involved in various social programs, primarily supporting the physically disabled.



In 2016, it opened its first rehabilitation hospital for children, followed by a workplace for young people with developmental disorders in 2020. Purme plans to allocate the entirety of the prize money to social projects that support people with disabilities and enhance the job skills of its employees. “We have appreciated the foundation’s long-lasting efforts to help the disabled play a crucial part in our society for the past two decades,” an official from HD Hyundai's charitable foundation said.

HD Hyundai Chairman Kwon Oh-gap, who also leads the foundation, expressed his commitment to spreading hope by continuing to present the awards to more organizations and individuals. “I was deeply moved by the stories of award winners who have dedicated their lives to creating a warmer society,” Kwon said. “We will continue to promote this spirit of sharing, helping more people feel a sense of hope.

” Along with the Purme Foundation, another nonprofit organization supporting single mothers received the Excellence Award in the organization category, while Kim Byung-rok was honored with the Excellence Award in the individual category for his three decades of voluntary service, including repairing old shoes and providing haircuts for the socially vulnerable, according to HD Hyundai's foundation. Kim also won the 1% Nanum Award. The HD Hyundai 1% Nanum Foundation was established in 2011 as part of the company’s commitment to strengthening its corporate social responsibility.

The foundation is supported by employees' voluntary contributions, with each donating 1 percent of their base salary. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Dec. 17.

.