Orland Park father Mike Konaszewski Sr., owner of Audio Video Interior (A.V.I.) and his son, Mike Konaszewski Jr., are giving back to children and teens fighting cancer by assisting with wiring data, phone jacks and pulling wire for phones and computers throughout the offices and warehouse of the new Treasure Chest Foundation. The Foundation recently moved its base of operations to a new home at 15430 70th Court in Orland Park, one that offers expanded parking availability and nearly three times the operational and storage space of its former headquarters.
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Audio Video Interior specializes in state-of-the-art, custom audio and video design including installation of both commercial and residential home theaters as well as pre-wiring construction.
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“We are so blessed to have the support of A.V.I., who generously donated hours upon hours of wiring services to get our network and phone system up and running throughout our new building,” said a thankful Colleen Kisel, Founder and CEO of the Treasure Chest Foundation. “A.V.I. tirelessly wired each and every room so that we could simply ‘plug in’ and begin our work of helping little ones fighting cancer.”
Mike Konaszewski Jr., age 20, said, “I am glad I am helping to get toys to the kids who have cancer.” To which his father nodded in agreement, adding, “That’s what we’ve got to do.”
The POTCF is a non-profit organization that provides comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy, gift or gift certificate in 42 hospitals nationwide. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. CEO Colleen Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Colleen 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 recently celebrated his 19th anniversary of remission from the disease.
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.
