La Grange Teenager's Tennis Fun Fest Has Widespread Impact

For the ninth consecutive year, La Grange teenager Crofton Kelly has provided a generous helping hand to kids with cancer by organizing, implementing and coordinating a local tennis tournament designed to raise funds to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF). The Orland Park-based non-profit organization provides comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy, gift or gift card in 48 hospitals nationwide.

The hardworking teenager’s 9th Annual Tennis Fun Fest recently drew participation by some 70 children and 10 tennis professionals at the Hinsdale Racquet Club. The popular event featured round robin matches, fun-drills, raffles, refreshments and prizes and ultimately raised more than $5,500 to benefit children fighting cancer. Overall, Crofton’s amazing efforts have netted more than $30,000 over the course of the fundraising event’s existence.

“Crofton’s enormous gift, as always, is especially appreciated,” said Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel. “His annual fundraising efforts will again help make it possible for hundreds of young children and teens battling cancer to receive toys and gift cards. I am so impressed when I think about what this one caring teenager has achieved.”

The effects of Crofton’s kindheartedness grew even more widespread in early 2014 with the opening of a new Treasure Chest Program in his honor at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. Each new Treasure Chest Program is opened in honor or in memory of one or more individuals whose lives have impacted the success of the Foundation. “We are grateful to open our 46th program near our nation’s capital in honor of Crofton. He is a true hero for hundreds of brave young cancer patients whose lives he has enhanced,” added Colleen.

Crofton described his reasons for helping the Treasure Chest Foundation and young cancer patients by saying, “I really like everything about the Treasure Chest Foundation, but I especially like the feeling of being able to help a child in need.” And once again, Crofton followed his tried and true formula of putting together a lot of small donations in order to make a big difference in the lives of many young cancer patients. “That is why I love the Treasure Chest Foundation,” he added, “because I can make a direct impact on the lives of kids who really need it.”

Alison Kelly, Crofton’s Mom, was also pleased with the amazing turnout and response from the Tennis Fun Fest participants, saying, “I’m sure the kids receiving cancer treatments and their families are thankful for this event and for the generosity of all those who participated.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 9,000 young cancer patients each month in 48 hospitals across 17 states. 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 celebrated his 21st anniversary of remission from the disease earlier this year.

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.