National Honor Society Collects Toys to Help Children with Cancer

The Lincoln-Way West High School National Honor Society members must demonstrate excellence in scholarship, leadership, service and character, the four pillars of the National Honor Society. The four main purposes are to create enthusiasm for scholarships, to stimulate a desire to render services, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students at secondary schools. That is exactly what the members of the National Honor Society from Lincoln-Way West High School in New Lenox did when they collected more than 300 toys to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF). The toys will comfort children fighting cancer across the nation.

Lincoln-Way West High School National Honor Society sponsor and science teacher Karla Horn said, “We hope the toys provide a little brightness in the day for so many kids!”

Treasure Chest Foundation Founder Colleen Kisel expressed her gratitude for the generous support shown by the National Honor Society from Lincoln-Way West High School. “The Treasure Chest Foundation is especially grateful to the National Honor Society for their enormous donation,” said Ms. Kisel. “I want the kids to know what a tremendous impact their toy donation will have on the children and teens fighting cancer.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,800 young cancer patients in 63 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 28th 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 708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s website at www.treasurechest.org.