The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF) of Orland Park will hold its Third Annual Treasuring Our Kids End of Summer Beach Party on Saturday, September 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Chicago Gaelic Park, 6119 W. 147th Street in Oak Forest.
The POTCF is a locally based non-profit organization that provides comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy, gift or gift certificate in 42 hospitals nationwide. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. CEO Colleen Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Ms. Kisel discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain and his new world filled with doctors, nurses, chemotherapy drugs, surgeries and seemingly endless painful procedures. Martin recently celebrated his 19th anniversary of remission from the disease.
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The End of Summer Beach Party will feature Chicago White Sox tickets, Ellen DeGeneres Show tickets and a money tree while offering attendees a chance to showcase their dancing skills, mingle with guests and enjoy delicious food and beverages in a fun-filled setting. The event also features an Orlando Vacation raffle package including two round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines, four passes to Walt Disney World, four passes and $600 in gift cards to Universal Studios and a week’s stay at a condo in Kissimmee, Florida.
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The End of Summer Beach Party will help the Foundation obtain the necessary funding to aid children battling cancer throughout Chicagoland and across the nation. Every year, approximately 13,500 children and teens are diagnosed with cancer nationwide—that is an average of 36 per day. One in every 330 Americans develops cancer before the age of 20.
The Treasure Chest Foundation is asking individuals and businesses to donate prizes for the evening’s auctions and raffles. This is a great opportunity for businesses to gain exposure while supporting the Treasure Chest Foundation’s worthy cause. To arrange for a pickup call 708-687-TOYS (8697) or drop off your donation at the Treasure Chest Foundation’s new warehouse at 15430 70th Court in Orland Park.
Tickets to the End of Summer Beach Party are $35 (adults) and $15 (kids under 12) in advance or $40 (adults) and $20 (kids under 12) at the door. The auctions will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a buffet dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by a festive night of music and dancing. To learn more about the Treasure Chest Foundation and to obtain tickets to the Third Annual Treasuring Our Kids End of Summer Beach Party, please contact Colleen Kisel at 708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s web site at www.treasurechest.org.
