Treasure Chest Foundation Names Genis Family Honorary Donors

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF) recently named Frankfort’s Genis family honorary donors for the Ninth Annual Treasuring Our Kids “Superhero” Fundraiser. This prestigious award recognizes individuals and/or organizations who have demonstrated outstanding and consistent support through significant donations, creative solicitation of contributions and otherwise outstanding fundraising efforts.

For the past nine years the Genis family (parents Shelly and Dave, son Jack and daughter Maddie) have hosted a tremendously successful cupcake and lemonade stand at their Frankfort home to benefit the Treasure Chest Foundation. Since its inception this popular event has raised more than $25,000 for children and teens fighting cancer. Our milestone 50th Treasure Chest Program, which opened in October of 2016 at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was dedicated to the Genis family. On behalf of the Treasure Chest Foundation and brave young cancer patients everywhere, we salute the Genis family for their amazing donations for the past nine years.

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: Frankfort’s honorary donor family Maddie Genis, dad Dave Genis and Jack Genis look on as mom Shelly Genis (second from left) delivers a heartfelt speech regarding partnering with the Treasure Chest Foundation.