Walsh Construction Workers Help Children Fighting Cancer

The employees at Chicago-based Walsh Construction are opening their hearts to help children and teens fighting cancer. Workers from Walsh and their subcontractors were recently asked to make a monetary donation to be used to purchase toys and gifts for kids fighting cancer. When the dust had settled, $600 had been collected on behalf of the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF) to directly benefit children fighting cancer.

Incorporated in 1949 in Chicago, Illinois, Walsh Construction operates out of regional offices across the United States, working with union labor and union subcontractors in the building, civil and transportation sectors.

Senior Superintendent Dan Budzisz and Assistant Project Manager Brittany Mead hammered through area stores where they purchased gifts including Barbies, board games, action figures along with teen items such as earbuds, tee shirts and warm socks. When asked about supporting the Treasure Chest Foundation, Dan replied, Walsh Constructions wants to help kids. The Treasure Chest Foundation is important to us. Anything to help the kids.”

Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel said, “We are extremely grateful to Walsh for showing their compassion by collecting money and purchasing so many great toys and gifts. It is amazing to receive such a tremendous donation, especially during our important holiday toy drive season.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,600 young cancer patients in 61cancer treatment centers in 20 states across the nation and in 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 27th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of 2020.

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.

Not pictured: Walsh Construction Project Manager Jon Longtin, Safety Manager Rex Engle, Administrative Support Cindy Randonis and Senior Project Manager Andy Kocher.