Hyundai Auto Canada’s team members before the challenge commenced at the 360°Kids meeting point at the community safety village. From left to right: Kirk Merrett, director of human resources and administration at Hyundai Canada; Jason Varicatt, compliance specialist at Hyundai Canada; Ashton Hamilton; warranty support analyst at Hyundai Canada; Steve Flamand, president and CEO of Hyundai Auto Canada; Ata Nourozifar, manager, Hyundai Performance Academy; PS Kim; chief executive partner at Hyundai Canada; and David Badurina, director, general counsel at Hyundai Canada.
Hyundai Canada and its York Region dealers spent a simulated cold winter night outdoors organized by 360ºkids and raised $90,000 to support at-risk and homeless youth through the challenge.
The simulation was part of the 12th annual 360ºExperience fundraiser that mimics the challenge and hardships of homelessness — especially for youth. Hyundai Canada’s newly-appointed President and CEO Steve Flamand was among the OEM executives that participated in the fundraising event, along with other team members and York Region dealers.
“Every child and young person deserves a safe and warm place to call home, and one of the important things about this challenge is that it brings back empathy to (the) homelessness epidemic in Canada,” said Flamand in a statement. “I am grateful to have a team and work with a dealer group that faces this challenge together to support its local community.”
He added that the 360ºkids organization has become a cornerstone in the York Region for its work, which “provides crucial support to vulnerable youth who deserve a bright future.”
The simulated experience took place at the Community Safety Village in Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario. The funds raised will help with critical support programs and services that help more than 3,000 youth annually. In 2024, 360°kids provided 338 young people with 887 nights of safe, temporary housing through their Nightstop program — along with direct housing support and more than 19,000 meals a month to young people.
