Alsip Dakota Inn Benefit a Tremendous Success

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation was awarded $1,480 and toys, proceeds from the Dakota Inn St. Patrick’s Day Party which occurred the day before the pandemic shutdown.

To date, Dakota Inn Manager Megan Naughton has raised more than $7,480 for children and teens fighting cancer. Dakota Inn Manager Megan said, “We are happy to support the Treasure Chest Foundation and its mission.” Ray Thatcher, Megan’s husband added, “We are good friends with Kim Perchez and the Treasure Chest Foundation is a great charity.”

The final tally shows Dakota Inn raised $1,480 for the Foundation thanks in part to guest bartender Ray Thatcher of Alsip and Dakota Inn bartenders, who worked tirelessly during the St. Patrick’s Day Party and donated 100% of their tips.

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,000 young cancer patients in 60 cancer treatment centers in 20 states across the nation and in the District of Columbia. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. 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, 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 celebrated his 27th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of 2020.

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.