Kirby School District 140 Holiday Toy Drive Benefits the Treasure Chest Foundation

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF) recently received an estimated $10,000 worth of donated toys thanks to the teamwork and generosity of several area schools and businesses, including all seven schools which make up the Kirby School District 140. The Orland Park-based, non-profit Foundation provides toys and gift cards to childhood cancer patients in 17 states across the nation. The toy drive was spearheaded for the twelfth consecutive year by Tinley Park resident Patti Rose and held in memory of her childhood friends, sisters Cathy Dykstra and Alison Barron, both of whom died of cancer.

“After losing my friends Cathy and Alison, I was looking for the best way to help other brave young cancer patients,” said Patti. “I spoke to their Mom, Nan Beard, and she suggested we help out the Treasure Chest Foundation by organizing the ‘Remembering Cathy and Alison’ Annual Holiday Toy Drive,” explained Patti. “We do this because of what it does for the kids, but our success wouldn’t be possible without teamwork and cooperation from Kirby School District 140 and all of the schools and businesses in the area who support our cause. Their generosity makes the actual toy drive easy and brings tears to my eyes.”

The schools and businesses contributing to the unprecedented success of this year’s toy drive included all seven schools from Tinley Park’s Kirby School District 140 (John A. Bannes Elementary School, Fernway Park Elementary School, Helen Keller Elementary School, Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, Millennium Elementary School, Virgil I. Grissom Middle School and Prairie View Middle School); Hope Montessori, Inc. of Tinley Park; Andrew High School Student Council members; C2 Education of Orland Park, as well as Dunkin Donuts stores in multiple locations in Tinley Park, Mokena and New Lenox.

POTCF Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel said, “Each year we are overwhelmed with the success of the ‘Remembering Cathy and Alison’ Holiday toy drive. The event has grown every year and enables us to continue our mission of providing smiles to childhood cancer patients. We are extremely grateful for the incredible support of Kirby School District 140 and all of the other participating schools and businesses.”

The POTCF’s unique services impact more than 9,300 young cancer patients each month in 49 hospitals across 17 states and the District of Columbia. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. Ms. Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. She 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 22nd anniversary of remission from the disease in March of 2015.

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:

Representatives of Kirby School District 140 gathered to celebrate the success of the 12th Annual ‘Remembering Cathy and Alison’ Holiday Toy Drive. Pictured (left to right) are Principal Mary Jo Werbiansky, Assistant Superintendent of Special Services Jill Wojack, Toy Drive Chairperson Patti Rose, Director of Educational Technology Shawn M. Olson, Assistant Superintendent Julia L. Mikulich, Principal Debbie Broadwell, Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Byrne, Principal Julie Cosentino, Principal Terry J. Kowalski, Principal JoAnn Greene, Principal Annette L. Szczasny and Assistant Principal Dan Callaghan.