Tinley Park Teen Donates Birthday Presents to Children Fighting Cancer

The family and friends of Austin Carter are giving to children and teens fighting cancer. Austin Carter, 13, of Tinley Park, inspired by his three grandparents who battled cancer, decided to ask friends to bring toy donations to his birthday party. When the party was over, Austin donated his birthday presents to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation.

Austin said “I chose the Treasure Chest to donate toys because I don’t need anything and because the kids need toys more than I do. When I brought my toys (Treasure Chest Foundation’s Orland Park warehouse) to donate, I was happy I gave them to the kids and I knew I made a good decision.”

Lynn Carter, Austin’s Mom said “I suggested the Treasure Chest Foundation because Austin lost three of his grandparents to cancer. We saw what they went through and I couldn’t imagine how hard it must be for a parent of a sick child. I knew it would brighten their day a little, to see their child happy to receive a toy.”

“The support of the local community means a lot and we are extremely grateful to Austin and his friends and family for their generous donation. It was very honorable of him to give up his birthday presents to help little ones who are battling cancer.” said Colleen Kisel, Founder and CEO of the Treasure Chest Foundation. “Because of his generosity, the program continues to support more than 9,000 children and teens fighting cancer monthly in our nation.”

The POTCF is a non-profit organization that provides comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy, gift or gift certificate in 48 hospitals nationwide. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. CEO Colleen Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Colleen 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 recently celebrated his 21st anniversary of remission from the disease.

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.