Tinley Park Couple Emcees Ninth Annual Treasuring Our Kids

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation recently hosted its Ninth Annual Treasuring Our Kids “Superhero” Fundraiser. The nearly 260 people gathered at Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park on April 7th witnessed a remarkable evening that included a delicious plate dinner and musical entertainment along with chances to win exciting prizes through silent and live auctions and raffles. The final tally shows the “Superhero” event raised more than $55,000 to benefit childhood cancer patients.

For the third consecutive year, the Treasure Chest Foundation was fortunate to have two members of the Board of Directors, Tinley Park residents Giuliano and Maureen Cipolla, serve as Emcees for the Treasuring Our Kids fundraiser. Maureen is also the Foundation’s Treasurer, and she and Giuliano have both polished their public speaking skills as members of Toastmasters.

The couple entertained attendees throughout the night’s busy schedule and kept everyone focused on the positive impact of the Foundation’s support of childhood cancer patients.

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 25th 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: Treasure Chest Foundation Board of Directors Maureen and Giuliano Cipolla serve as Emcees for our Treasuring Our Kids "Superhero" fundraiser at Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park.