The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF) recently received a donation of 100's of toys and $150 thanks to a woman who spearheaded nine community-wide toy drives in memory of her childhood friends and sisters Cathy and Alison who died of cancer.
Tinley Park resident Patti Rose said “Ten years ago I spoke to my friend’s Mom, Nan Beard, about giving back and she introduced me to the Treasure Chest Foundation, thus I started “Remembering Cathy and Alison” annual holiday toy drive. When you help someone else, it helps you to forget about the stresses in your life. I do this because of what it does for the kids. The generosity of the people brings tears to my eyes.”
Find out what's happening in Tinley Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The schools and businesses that participated this year included John A. Banes School, Helen Keller School, Virgil I. Grissom Middle School, Christa McAuliffe School, Millennium Elementary School, Fernway Park Elementary School, Dunkin Donuts, Republic Bank, (all located in Tinley Park), and Mokena Animal Hospital in Mokena.
Find out what's happening in Tinley Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
POTCF Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel said, “Patti Rose formulated this idea ten years ago when she delivered one van load of toys. Ten years later Patti dropped off three van loads of toys making this one of her best toy drives on record. Patti is truly a rose.”
The POTCF’s unique services impact more than 9,000 young cancer patients each month in 46 hospitals across 16 states and the District of Columbia. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. Ms. Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. She discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain, noting that when children are diagnosed with cancer their world soon becomes filled with doctors, nurses, chemotherapy drugs, surgeries and seemingly endless painful procedures. Martin will celebrate his 21st anniversary of remission from the disease in early 2014.
If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s web site at www.treasurechest.org.
