Andrew High School Restorative Circles Student Leadership Team Donates

Student leaders from Andrew High School's Restorative Circles organization in Tinley Park are giving to children and teens fighting cancer. The Student Leadership Restorative Circles organization recently sponsored a toy drive to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF). The event brought in more than 60 toys for kids battling cancer.

Restorative Circles (formally Peer Mediation) is a student leadership club that focuses on creating a more positive and connected school environment. Students are trained in restorative practices, specifically restorative circles, and co-facilitate mediations.

Student Leadership Team member Sia Stamus said, “Since my cousin had cancer the Treasure Chest Foundation means a lot to me. This is my way of giving back and helping to put a smile on the faces of kids fighting cancer.” Ms. Kisel expressed her gratitude for the generous support shown by the students at Andrew High School, “The Treasure Chest Foundation is especially grateful to the students at Andrew High School for their donation of toys.” said Ms. Kisel. “It warms my heart to have the support of students that ultimately bring in toys for kids fighting cancer.”

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 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 30th 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.