T.E.A.M. Asset Program Provides Toys to Children with Cancer

Students at four District #210 Lincoln-Way high schools are participating in a program designed to make their local community a better environment in which to live, work and learn. T.E.A.M. Asset, an acronym for Teaching Everyone Assets Matter, provides an outlet for both children and adults who strive to improve their community. The students recently joined forces with the Frankfort Park District, Frankfort School District 157-C, Frankfort United Methodist Church, Kiwanis of Frankfort, Frankfort United Methodist Church, Kiwanis of Frankfort, Liberty Jr. High, Lincoln-Way Central High School, Lincoln-Way East High School, Lincoln-Way North High School, Lincoln-Way West High School, Mackay Education Center, Manhattan Community Park District, Manhattan School District 114, Martino Jr. High, Mokena Community Park District, Mokena School District 159, New Lenox Chamber of Commerce, New Lenox Park District, New Lenox School District 122, Peace Lutheran Church, St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, Summit Hill Jr. High and Summit Hill School District 161 and raised more than 3,700 toys for the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation.

The program=s framework identifies the basic assets that all young people need to grow up healthy, caring and responsible, and then emphasizes each asset in a unified campaign for a better community.

Dustin Waddell, Lincoln-Way Central, Student Activities Coordinator said, “This is a program that T.E.A.M. Asset takes very seriously. We are always happy to help children fighting cancer.” Instructional Technology Coordinator Chris Fetherling added, “It is always good to see our community coming together to benefit a worthy cause.”

The recent toy drive successfully met the T.E.A.M. Asset objectives by providing comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens battling cancer, prompting Treasure Chest Foundation founder and CEO Colleen Kisel to express her gratitude for the program=s efforts. “I want all of the groups who worked so hard to know what a tremendous impact this toy drive will have. Their compassion and generosity will help put smiles on the faces of more than 9,300 children and teens each month who are struggling with the adversity of battling childhood cancer. What a blessing this partnership has been for the clients served by the Treasure Chest Foundation.”

The not-for-profit Treasure Chest Foundation now supports more than 9,300 children and teens each month who are diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy or gift card in 49 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 recently celebrated his 22nd 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.