Homer Glen Boy Donates Birthday Presents to Children with Cancer

The family and friends of Homer Glen boy Nolan Gatz are giving to children and teens fighting cancer. The family of nine-year-old Nolan Gatz of Homer Glen decided to ask his guests to bring toy donations to his birthday party being hosted by the Gatz family at the Lockport Fitness Center. Over 25 kids attended Nolan’s birthday swim party. When the party was over, Nolan accumulated more than 50 toys to donate to The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation.

Nolan said, “Anthony Rizzo donates stuff and I want to be just like him.” Nolan’s dad Rich Gatz delivered the toys to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundations warehouse.

“Birthday parties are a time for children to gather up toys. But Nolan decided to give his birthday presents away. Children fighting cancer will be comforted from this donation of birthday presents. A special thanks to the Gatz Family and all of Nolan’s friends and family for the great donation of toys.” said Colleen Kisel, Founder and CEO of the Treasure Chest Foundation.

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 13,000 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 24th 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.