Saint Spyridon Ladies Philoptochos Society Helps Children

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation was overjoyed recently to receive an enormous donation of $1,700 from the Saint Spyridon Ladies Philoptochos Society in Palos Heights. The Society members hosted a “Take and Bake Sale” fundraiser to benefit the Treasure Chest Foundation, an Orland Park-based non-profit organization that provides toys and gifts to children and teens diagnosed with cancer.

The Saint Spyridon Ladies Philoptochos Society is an organization whose primary purpose is aimed toward philanthropic endeavors and programs. The Society provides for the disadvantaged and assists the church in many ways. In this instance, Society members baked an impressive array of Greek pies and later sold the frozen dishes to church parishioners.

“Helping the Treasure Chest Foundation is a chance to help a child in a difficult situation,” said Ladies Philoptochos Society President Georgia Xeros. “If we can make their treatments a little easier, we are here to help. We want the kids to know we all care.”

Rev. Fr. George Lamberis said during his visit to the Treasure Chest Foundation facility, “Having visited kids with cancer in the hospital, we feel what you do here is important. Kids need a distraction from the pain and suffering and the Treasure Chest Foundation is a beacon of hope for these kids. What you do is a beautiful thing.”

Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel expressed her profound gratitude for the generous support shown by the Ladies Philoptochos Society. “The Treasure Chest Foundation is especially grateful to the Saint Spyridon Hellenic Orthodox Church and the Philoptochos Society for their enormous donation,” said an appreciative Ms. Kisel, “It is wonderful to see these ladies come together to help little ones fighting cancer.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,800 young cancer patients in 63 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 28th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of 2021.

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.treasurechest.org.