Fish Tales Fishing Club Nets Huge Catch of Toys and Gift Cards for Treasure Chest Foundation

Fish Tales Fishing Club in Oak Forest netted over 115 toys and $305 in gift cards recently to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF) during the Fishing Club’s annual Christmas Party at the Candlelight Banquet Hall in Chicago Ridge. The Orland Park-based non-profit organization provides comfort and distraction from painful treatments to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy or gift card in 50 hospitals nationwide.

Fish Tales Fishing Club (www.fishtalesfishingclub.com) is an organization of men and women who meet monthly to discuss fishing techniques, conduct seminars about local lakes and to support the South Suburban Special Recreation Association by organizing weekly fishing trips throughout the summer.

Fish Tales Fishing Club Publicity Chair Ed Mackey said, “We like to get involved with the community.” Fish Tales Web Master and Fisherman Fred Howes added, “I brought the message to the group about how the toys go to children fighting cancer.”

Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel expressed her gratitude for the generous support shown by the Fishing Club members. “Fred Howes and all of the Fish Tales Fishing Club members have been in our corner for seven years. Each passing year their toy and gift card drive is bigger and better,” The Fishing Club’s tremendous support will brighten the lives of so many brave children and teens battling cancer.” said an appreciative Ms. Kisel.

The not-for-profit Treasure Chest Foundation now supports more than 10,000 children and teens each month who are diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy or gift card in 50 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.

Photo caption:

(L-r): Fish Tales Publicity Chair Ed Mackey and Web Master and Fisherman Fred Howes proudly display the Fishing Club’s fresh catch of toys at the Treasure Chest Foundation’s Orland Park warehouse. The toys and gift cards they landed during the Club’s recent Christmas Party will bring smiles of joy to thousands of children and teens battling cancer across the nation.