Universal School in Bridgeview Provides Toys to Children with Cancer

The students and families at Bridgeview's Universal School are contributing to children battling cancer. With the support of Principal Aminah Murrar, the school hosted a successful toy drive thanks in part to Loyola University’s student Aaqib Shahid who spearheaded the drive with the help of Mr. Moath Alshanti, Advisor for Iman Dawa and the Humanitarian Aid Club at Universal School. The successful toy drive brought in over 1,000 toys to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation.

Universal School is an Islamic, religious, K-12 private school. Their mission is to provide a safe, nurturing, and stimulating Islamic learning environment that enables students to achieve their maximum educational potential and prepares them for their future roles in society as responsible citizens.

The toy drive also provided an excellent learning opportunity for the students at the Universal School, as they were able to learn about giving to others at an early age, especially to children of the same age who are battling cancer. We appreciate the Universal School's assistance in making this wonderful experience possible.

Ms. Kisel expressed her profound gratitude for the generous support shown by the students and families at Universal School “The Treasure Chest Foundation is especially grateful to students and families at Universal School for their enormous donation of toys,” said Ms. Kisel. “Because of their generosity, our Foundation will continue to support thousands of children and teens monthly, well into 2023.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 16,100 young cancer patients in 66 cancer treatment centers in 21 states across the nation and the District of Columbia. 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 29th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of this year.

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 1-708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s website at www.treasurechest.org.