La Grange Teenager’s 13th Annual Tennis Fun Fest

For 11 consecutive years, La Grange teenager Crofton Kelly provided a generous helping hand to kids with cancer by organizing, implementing and coordinating a local tennis tournament designed to raise funds to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. Two years ago, Crofton Kelly laid down his racquet and passed along the job of implementing and coordinating the Tennis Fun Fest to his sister, Mattigan Kelly. All proceeds benefited the Orland Park-based non-profit organization which provides comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy, gift or gift card in 53 hospitals nationwide.

The hardworking teenager's 13th Annual Tennis Fun Fest recently drew participation by more than 125 children and some professionals at the Hinsdale Racquet Club. The popular event featured round robin matches, fun-drills, raffles, refreshments and prizes and ultimately raised $10,000 to benefit children fighting cancer. Overall, Crofton and Mattigan's amazing efforts have netted more than $72,650 over the course of the fundraising event's existence.

“Mattigan’s enormous gift, as always, is especially appreciated,” said Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel. “The annual fundraising efforts will again help make it possible for hundreds of young children and teens battling cancer to receive toys and gift cards. I am so impressed when I think about what this one caring teenager has achieved.”

Alison Kelly, Mattigan’s Mom, was also pleased with the amazing turnout and response from the Tennis Fun Fest participants, saying, “I am excited that Mattigan wants to combine her passion of playing tennis along with serving others to help kids who are battling cancer. I am very proud of her. It was our biggest turnout ever!”

Mattigan described her reasons for helping the Treasure Chest Foundation and young cancer patients by saying, “I really like helping people and this is a wonderful way to do it. It’s been real fun organizing this event.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 13,300 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 25th anniversary of remission from the disease in March.

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 one caption (left-right): Tennis Fun Fest organizer Mattigan Kelly and Alison Kelly, Mattigan’s Mom at the Hinsdale Racquet Club celebrate the rousing success of the 13th Annual Tennis Fun Fest which raised $10,000.

Photo two caption: Organizer Mattigan Kelly and friends celebrate the rousing success of the 12th Annual Tennis Fun Fest which raised $10,000.