Treasure Chest Foundation Board President Helps Children and Teens Fighting Cancer

Treasure Chest Foundation Board President James Rodriguez, a three-time cancer survivor is giving back to kids fighting cancer. For the past two years James produced a number of variety shows. All money raised from the ticket sales was used to purchase toys and gifts valued at $8,500 with the aim of benefitting the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF), a non-profit organization that provides toys, gifts and gift cards to children and teens diagnosed with cancer in the Chicagoland area and nationwide.

Shortly after his successful shopping venture, James and neighbor Lucy Erikson visited the Treasure Chest Foundation’s Orland Park warehouse. James Rodriguez said, “As a three time cancer survivor I choose to help the kids the Foundation serves. Kids without toys is something I don’t want to see.” Lucy chimed in by saying, “This is a good cause and I would not have known about it had it not been for James.”

POTCF Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel is grateful for James help. “I’m overwhelmed by James’ remarkable demonstration of thoughtfulness and generosity,” said Colleen. “James knows first-hand what it is like for the children and teens to fight cancer. We are so blessed to have his support.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 9,300 young cancer patients each month in 49 hospitals across 17 states. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. Ms. Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. She 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 22nd anniversary of remission from the disease in 2015.

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.