Holiday Party Delivers Smiles to Children Fighting Cancer

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation was awarded toys and gifts for kids fighting cancer thanks to the generosity of a group of women who opted to forgo a gift exchange during their annual holiday party. The party-goers chose to support Treasure Chest Foundation and donated over 25 toys and $60 in gift cards. Ten women participated in the event.

Partygoer Jane Withers said, “The Treasure Chest is a wonderful cause for some very deserving children. We are happy to help.”

“The support of the ladies means a lot and we are grateful for this generous donation. It was very honorable to forgo gifts for themselves to help kids who are battling cancer,” said Colleen Kisel, Founder and CEO of the Treasure Chest Foundation.

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 16,100 young cancer patients in 66 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 29th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of 2022.

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 1-708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s website at www.treasurechet.org.