Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce Help Kids with Cancer

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation recently received toys to benefit children fighting cancer thanks to the tireless work of the Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce. The Orland Park-based non-profit foundation provides comfort and distraction from painful treatments to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy or gift card in 52 Children’s Cancer Treatment Centers nationwide.

The Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual holiday party at Side Street American Tavern in Tinley Park. Each guest was asked to bring a new unwrapped toy to benefit children undergoing cancer treatments. Guests enjoyed dinner, desserts, cash bar, and dueling pianos for entertainment.

Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel expressed her appreciation, saying, “The Treasure Chest Foundation is especially grateful for this enormous donation. Thanks to the generosity of the Tinley Park community thousands of children fighting cancer will continue to be rewarded with a toy or gift card for their bravery.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 13,000 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 24th 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:

Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce Christmas party guests (front row, left to right) Chamber Membership Services Coordinator Dianne Hebel, Chamber Event Coordinator Beth Ruff, (back row, left to right) Chamber Executive Director Jackie Bobbitt, Chamber Board President Steve Babin, and Chamber Board Member and Treasure Chest Foundation Board Treasurer Maureen Cipolla among the collection box of toys during the annual Christmas party. The holiday party was held at Side Street American Tavern in Tinley Park.