Tinley Park American Legion Post Helps Children and Teens with Cancer

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF) of Orland Park was overjoyed recently to receive a donation of $200 from the Tinley Park American Legion Post 615. The donation will directly benefit children and teens fighting cancer.

Treasure Chest Foundation Board Secretary Tammy Girten said, “I would like to thank Commander Jimmy Hunter and the Tinley Park American Legion for their most generous donation to the Treasure Chest Foundation. Their donation will help support children and teens who endure years of cancer treatments by rewarding the little ones with a toy, gift or gift card after every procedure.”

“We are so blessed to have the support of the Tinley Park American Legion Post 615 for their generous donation,” said a thankful Colleen Kisel, Founder and CEO of the Treasure Chest Foundation.

The American Legion is the nation’s largest veteran’s organization dedicated to the motto of “Veterans Strengthening America.” Chartered by Congress in 1919. The American Legion is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome community programs, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security and continued devotion to service members and veterans.

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 15,700 young cancer patients in 65 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 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.