Hyundai Canada and five dealerships raise more than $90,000 during 360ºExperience for Unhoused Youth
2024/03/14
- Hyundai Canada and five York Region dealers contribute to the fundraiser goals by raising more than $90,000 after participating in the “Overnight Challenge” and the “Corporate Challenge”
- Hyundai team members and five dealership staff spend the night out in the cold as part of the “Corporate Challenge”– just like many York Region youth experience regularly
- With this donation, Hyundai Canada continues its ongoing support of 360ºkids, an organization serving more than 2,500 at-risk and homeless youth annually from York Region municipalities
Markham, Ont. (March 14, 2024) – Hyundai Canada and its York Region Dealers raised $90,000 after participating in the 12th annual 360ºExperience fundraiser by spending a cold winter night outdoors. The simulated experience was organized by 360ºkids and designed to be an eye-opening challenge about the hardships of homelessness, especially for youth, who would typically not have anything except the clothes on their back and have to figure out how to seek shelter from the harms of overexposure.
Hyundai has been committed to participating in this experience for four consecutive years with the aim to raise awareness and the voices of those who undergo this hardship. Hyundai Canada’s executive leaders, including its newly appointed president and CEO, Steve Flamand, team members and York Region dealers participated in the challenge to surpass their fundraising target by coming together to raise critical funds to support at-risk and homeless youth through this challenge. Hyundai Canada’s executive group and team members who did the overnight challenge visited three youth shelters and spent the entire evening outside in the cold to help raise additional funds to the cause.
“Every child and young person deserves a safe and warm place to call home, and one of the import things about this challenge is that it brings back empathy to homelessness epidemic in Canada. I am grateful to have a team and work with a dealer group that faces this challenge together to support its local community,” says Steve Flamand, president and CEO of Hyundai Canada. “360ºkids have become a cornerstone in the York Region for their work which provides crucial support to vulnerable youth who deserve a bright future.”
The funds raised contribute to the goal set by 360ºkids and will assist with critical support programs and services that help more than 3,000 youth annually. Last year alone, 360°kids provided 338 young people with 887 nights of safe, temporary housing through their Nightstop program, supported over 250 youth to receive direct housing support, and provided over 19,000 meals a month to young people.
“Many thanks to Hyundai Auto Canada and everyone who contributed to a successful #360Experience2025 to raise awareness and funds that support the lifesaving work we do for young people,” said Clovis Grant, CEO of 360°kids. “The 240 participants heard from staff, youth, and partner agencies about homelessness services across the GTA and engaged in activities that helped to create a sobering, yet greater, understanding around youth homelessness.”
The simulated experience took place at the Community Safety Village and is part of the Corporate Challenge organized by 360°kids. Hyundai Canada is committed to uplifting and supporting Canadian youth through various channels under its corporate vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’. Youth supports include and are not limited to financial assistance with scholarships, grants, and mental health programs. By partnering with an expert organization that provides meaningful and measurable impact like 360°kids, Hyundai Canada is able to fulfill its commitment to enable systemic change and support youth who face racism, discrimination, violence and exploitation by obtaining supports to deal with these issues.
