Patti Rose Gives to Treasure Chest Foundation in Memory of Girlfriends

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF) recently received a donation of 1,000’s of toys thanks to a woman who spearheaded eleven community-wide toy drives in memory of her childhood friends and sisters Cathy and Alison who died of cancer.

Tinley Park resident Patti Rose said “Thirteen years ago I spoke to my friend’s Mom, Nan Beard, about giving back and she introduced me to the Treasure Chest Foundation, thus I started “Remembering Cathy and Alison” annual holiday toy drive. When you help someone else, it helps you to forget about the stresses in your life. I do this because of what it does for the kids. The generosity of the people brings tears to my eyes.”

The schools and businesses that participated this year included John A. Bannes School, Helen Keller School, Virgil I. Grissom Middle School, Christa McAuliffe School, Millennium Elementary School, Fernway Park Elementary School, Prairie View Middle School and Tinley Park High School (all located in Tinley Park) and three Dunkin Donuts locations (Frankfort, New Lenox and Tinley Park).

POTCF Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel said, “Patti Rose formulated this idea thirteen years ago when she delivered one van load of toys. Thirteen years later Patti dropped off more than four van loads of toys making this one of her best toy drives on record. Patti is truly a rose.”

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:

Kevin Rose and Patti Rose during the toy donation drop-off at the Treasure Chest Foundation’s Orland Park warehouse. Patti collected 1,000’s of toys for kids battling cancer during the “Remembering Cathy and Alison” holiday toy drives.