Alsip Dakota Inn Donates to Help Children and Teens Fighting Cancer

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation was recently awarded $1,200 to benefit children and teens fighting cancer. $895 was collected from the generous patrons and $305 was donated from Dakota Inn Owners Jim Bradford and Angele Joachim. Dakota Inn Manager Megan Thatcher said, “We are happy to support the Treasure Chest Foundation and its mission.” Ray Thatcher, Megan’s husband added, “It feels good to help the less fortunate.” To date, Dakota Inn, their patrons and Manager Megan Naughton has raised more than $8,391, $235 in gift cards and hundreds of toys for children and teens fighting cancer.

The Dakota Inn was established in 1994 by proprietors Jim Bradford and Angele Joachim. The friendly, neighborhood bar often hosts benefits to help raise money for local charities.

“We have come a long way and we are so excited to have opened 65 Treasure Chest Programs in the nation,” said Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel. “None of this would be possible without the support of the Dakota Inn Family. The Dakota Inn Family are silent heroes for thousands of children fighting cancer.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 15,700 young cancer patients in 65 cancer treatment centers in 21 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 29th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of this year.

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 1-708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s website at www.treasurechest.org.