More Help from Hyundai
Hyundai donates $10K to HCC food pantry
Representatives from Hyundai Motor America visited Holyoke Community College on Friday, July 17, to deliver a $10,000 check to benefit the college’s food pantry.
This is the fifth consecutive year Hyundai Motor America has donated to the HCC food pantry through the company’s Hyundai Hope Initiative. This year, Hyundai doubled its annual donation to $10,000, bringing their total contributions over five years to $42,500.
“We're incredibly grateful,” said Julie Phillips, HCC executive director of development. “You help make HCC a place where our students can focus on their education and on their career goals and not just on the next obstacle that life throws in their way.”
The annual donation adds to other gifts made throughout the year by local auto dealer Gary Rome, owner of Gary Rome Hyundai and a member of the HCC Foundation Board of Directors, whose efforts on behalf of HCC brought the Thrive Center and Food Pantry to the attention of the Hyundai corporate offices in California. Rome accompanied Hyundai officials to the check presentation ceremony.
Ben Ostiguy, Thrive Center senior programs coordinator, said HCC food pantry requests had more than doubled from 483 in fiscal year 2025 to 1,162 in fiscal year 2026, which ended June 30.
“That’s a remarkable increase,” he said, “and we distributed a mind-boggling 26,808 pounds of nutritious food and household goods, compared to 9,658 the previous fiscal year. That's nearly triple the output of giving that we were able to do. And a big part of that was because of the generosity of Hyundai Hope and Gary Rome Hyundai.”
Hyundai Hope is Hyundai Motor America’s corporate social responsibility initiative that provides support in the area of health.
“Research has shown the number one concern for Americans is food insecurity, and basic needs are essential for these students,” said Brandon Ramirez, director of corporate responsibility for Hyundai Motor North America.
The HCC Thrive Center manages the college’s food pantry and provides services, such as food and housing assistance, that help address students’ basic needs.
