Benevolent Babies Give to Children Fighting Cancer

The family and friends of Lily and Bennett are giving to children and teens fighting cancer. The family of two-year-old Lily and one-year-old Bennett Gnade of Frankfort decided to ask friends to bring toy and gift card donations to their family party. When the party was over, Lily and Bennett accumulated toys and $90 in gift cards to donate to The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation.

Mom Tina Gnade said “My brother was a recipient of the Treasure Chest and the Treasure Chest Foundation is near and dear to my family. My brother has been in remission for 10 years now.”

POTCF Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel said, “We feel so blessed to have the support of the Gnade family and all of their friends. Today the Gnade family has given back to the Treasure Chest Foundation, and for that we are extremely grateful.”

The not-for-profit Treasure Chest Foundation now supports more than 9,300 children and teens each month who are diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy or gift card in 49 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. Martin celebrated his 23rd 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.