Tinley Park Teenager Completes Leadership Service Project

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation was recently awarded a large treasure chest thanks to the tireless work of Tinley Park teenager Alexis Burnette (age 17), who earned her Gold Award.

Alexis organized, implemented and coordinated the construction project, to attain her Gold Award. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the most prestigious award that Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors can earn. Fulfilling the requirements for the Gold Award starts with completing two Senior or Ambassador Journeys or having earned the Silver Award. The Gold Award recognizes girls who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through remarkable projects that have sustainable impact in their communities and beyond. Alexis is a member of Tinley Park Girl Scout Troop 60555.

When asked about her motivation for the project, Alexis replied, “Just being able to brighten a kid fighting cancer any way possible is one of the most rewarding things anyone can do.”

Alexis began planning her project last year. It involved securing a $500 donation from T.M. Tire in Crestwood where her mom works. Alexis had to budget the work and buy supplies. Once that was completed Alexis enlisted the expertise of a carpenter to help with the building of the Treasure Chest. After the construction work was completed, Alexis painted the Treasure Chest.

Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel said, “One of our greatest blessings has been the help of young girls like Girl Scout Alexis Burnette. Alexis’s Treasure Chest is scheduled to debut sometime this year. We could not be happier.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 13,300 young cancer patients in 56 cancer treatment centers 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 26th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of 2019.

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.