Tinley Park Teenagers Complete Service Project to Help Children Fighting Cancer

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation was recently awarded a day of labor by two Tinley Park teenagers, Michael Mannion (age 13) and Jacob Wurster (age 13) who lent a helping hand at the warehouse. The Orland Park-based non-profit organization provides comfort and distraction from painful treatments to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy, gift or gift card in 49 hospitals nationwide. The boys helped organize, pack and prepare the toys and gifts for shipment to treatment centers served by the foundation. POTCF CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel estimates the boys have personally prepared more than 360 pounds of toys for shipping, enough to stock at least three hospitals or children’s cancer treatment centers for the next several weeks.

The work itself is seldom easy: The boys typically performed the physically challenging job of lifting and stacking the boxes once they are ready to be shipped to their ultimate destinations. The foundation is delighted to know the motivation behind their volunteer work. Jacob said, “My cousin had cancer and she received toys from the Treasure Chest Foundation and because of that I wanted to help other kids get toys.” Michael continued by saying, “I thought it would be nice to help out kids who have cancer.”

Ms. Kisel showed her appreciation for the boys’ loyalty and hard work, saying, “Volunteers like Jacob and Michael are the life blood of our foundation, without them we would never be able to provide smiles of joy to thousands of young cancer patients every month. We are so grateful that the boys are willing to take time to be here, and their contributions have been incredible.”

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 is on course to celebrate his 23rd anniversary of remission from the disease later this month.

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.