Alsip Dakota Inn Benefit a Tremendous Success

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation was recently awarded $3,136, $145 in gift cards, toys and teen items, proceeds which included $2,356 from the Dakota Inn St. Patrick’s Day Party. To date, Dakota Inn Manager Megan Naughton has raised over $6,000 in three years for children and teens fighting cancer.

Nearly 200 people gathered at Dakota Inn in Alsip witnessed a remarkable day that included sumptuous mouthwatering corn beef, cabbage and drinks. Participants had chances to win exciting raffle prizes.

The final tally shows Dakota Inn raised $3,136 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 $2,356 in tips.

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 13,300 young cancer patients enduring 20,000 clinic visits each month in 19 states across the nation. 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 26th anniversary of remission from the disease in March.

Photo Caption (l-r): Dakota Inn Guest Bartender Ray Thatcher and Manager Megan Naughton present their $3,136 donation, $145 in gift cards along with toys and teen items at the Treasure Chest Foundation’s Orland Park warehouse. Their impressive donation will directly benefit children and teens battling cancer nationwide.