Treasure Chest Foundation Honors Volunteer of the Year

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation has named Nan Beard of Crestwood its Volunteer of the Year during the Eleventh Annual Treasuring Our Kids Fundraiser in Tinley Park. The prestigious annual award recognizes the hard work of the Foundation’s volunteers who serve on a regular basis.

For the better part of two decades, Nan has been an integral part of the Foundation’s volunteer group, serving in such capacities as processing toy shipments, working on mailers and speaking in public on behalf of the Foundation. Many of the volunteers have personally experienced the loss of a loved one to cancer. Nan is no exception, having endured the tragic loss of three immediate family members to cancer in the short time span of seven years. Nan credits her faith in God, her friends and more specifically the Treasure Chest Foundation for helping her not only get through that difficult time, but to seek ways to motivate and help others around her.

Volunteer of the Year Nan Beard had this to say, “The Treasure Chest saved my life! What was I going to do after losing my daughters Cathy and Alison to cancer? I feel so close to my co-volunteers, we are a family. We share everything with each other because we never judge each other. We laugh and cry together. My co-volunteers know they can’t leave the building without giving me a hug. All their hugs keep me going all week. The Treasure Chest has me for life. I’m so happy when I’m there.”

Nan’s long-term loyalty has helped forge a closeness with Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel, who appreciates Nan’s positive contributions to thousands of young cancer patients. “I can’t put into words what Nan has meant to the Foundation for so many years,” says Colleen. “She consistently provides her services week in and week out, and always brings joy to our facility. It is wonderful to be able to recognize and honor Nan Beard for her giving spirit.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 16,100 young cancer patients in 66 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 30th 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.