Wish List As We Navigate This “New Normal,” the Needs of the Kids We Serve Do Not Stop Or Gift Cards in $5 Increments Disappear
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TreasureS A Publication of the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation www.treasurechest.org Providing Toys and Smiles to Kids with Cancer Relief Fund Campaign Brings Unprecedented Results Dear Friends: In this issue: When the coronavirus pandemic was declared a national emergency, I was sure we were ending our 24-year run of providing toys and smiles to children fighting cancer. Delivering a Ton of Toys How could we possibly survive? We were forced to cancel our biggest fundraising event as Shipping Resumed 2 of the year along with numerous other significant fundraisers hosted by schools and businesses. The world came to a grinding halt. For the first time ever a feeling of despair loomed and we reached out to you—our Candyland Fundraiser donors—in what would be called our COVID-19 Relief Fund Campaign. And then Postponement 4 something unimaginable happened: the Campaign skyrocketed, bringing in more than $12,000! We’ve never experienced anything like this in nearly two-and-a-half decades of providing comfort to childhood cancer patients. Latest News 4 On June 1, the Treasure Chest Foundation resumed operations that had been suspended by the coronavirus pandemic. From that point through the end of June we shipped more than 2,760 pounds of toys and more than $5,450 in gift cards to 33 Children’s Cancer Donations 7 Treatment Centers served by the Treasure Chest Foundation. Some of the hospitals we serve are imposing stricter limitations on receiving toy donations. We are waiting for their restrictions to lift and are confident that one day all will be well. 60th Treasure Chest Program We are happy to announce that the Treasure Chest Foundation will open its 60th Announcement 9 Treasure Chest Program this summer at Niswonger Children’s Hospital in Johnson City, TN. This Program will be opened in memory of Philip J. Finn, whose passion for the Treasure Chest Foundation began in 1999 in an era when we operated in my home basement. Phil’s belief in our mission helped us go from serving 300 kids monthly to our current amazing total of 14,000 patients in 20 states across the nation. Sadly, Phil passed away in 2014, but his memory and loyal support will live on with the opening of our latest Treasure Chest Program in his honor. Wish List As we navigate this “new normal,” the needs of the kids we serve do not stop or Gift cards in $5 increments disappear. We appreciate and rely upon your continued support to help ensure that toys and gift cards will continue to reach the children and teens fighting Items for teens cancer. If you have the means and are able, please consider a donation which will prove critical in our ability to drive our mission forward. Giving can be as easy as a mouse click away by visiting Our Mission our web page at www.treasurechest.org and clicking the “Donate Now” link, or by sending your gift in the To provide comfort and distraction enclosed envelope. With your valuable support, we will from painful procedures to children continue to serve our clients to the best of our abilities and teens who have been diagnosed through this pandemic and beyond. with cancer by providing toys, gifts and gift cards from a Treasure Chest. Sincerely, Like and Follow us on FB, Instagram and Twitter: Colleen M. Kisel @POTCF @POTCF96 CEO and Founder @POTCF96 Page 2 Treasures June Toy Deliveries After Shipping Operations Halted by Coronavirus Beginning June 1 when the Treasure Chest Foundation resumed shipping operations suspended by the coronavirus outbreak, through the end of June, the Foundation has shipped 2,768 pounds. of toys along with $5,455 in gift cards nationwide for the children and teens we serve. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Summer 2020 Page 3 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 1. 58th Treasure Chest Program 12. 50th Treasure Chest Program 23. 25th Treasure Chest Program Mayo Clinic Children's Hospital at Erlanger Connecticut Children's Medical Center Rochester, MN Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases Hartford, CT th Chattanooga, TN th 2. 15 Treasure Chest Program 24. 34 Treasure Chest Program st Beacon Children's Hospital 13. 31 Treasure Chest Program Marshfield Children's Hospital/ South Bend, IN UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Marshfield Medical Center th Oakland, CA Marshfield, WI 3. 27 Treasure Chest Program th th University of Virginia Medical Center 14. 29 Treasure Chest Program 25. 55 Treasure Chest Program Charlottesville, VA IU Health North Hospital Children’s Hospital at Tri Star rd (Riley Hematology, Oncology) Centennial Nashville, TN 4. 23 Treasure Chest Program Carmel, IN th Riley Hospital for Children 26. 14 Treasure Chest Program th Indianapolis, IN 15. 8 Treasure Chest Program Bronson Pediatric Hematology th University of Illinois Hospital Oncology Clinic, Kalamazoo, MI 5. 20 Treasure Chest Program Chicago, IL nd St. Jude Midwest Affiliate Clinic 27. 52 Treasure Chest Program th Peoria, IL 16. 5 Treasure Chest Program Cleveland Clinic Children's and 6. 19th Treasure Chest Program John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital Pediatric Institute Chicago, IL Cleveland, OH HSHS St. Vincent Children's Hospital th th Green Bay, WI 17. 7 Treasure Chest Program 28. 36 Treasure Chest Program 7. 49th Treasure Chest Program Rush Presbyterian- St. Luke's Lutheran Children's Hospital Medical Center Ft. Wayne, IN Jimmy Everest Center for Blood Chicago, IL st Disorders and Cancer in Children 29. 21 Treasure Chest Program th Oklahoma City, OK 18. 47 Treasure Chest Program St. John's Children's Hospital (SIU) th Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Springfield, IL 8. 38 Treasure Chest Program Proton Therapy Center th Nemours A.I. duPont Hospital 30. 28 Treasure Chest Program Seattle, WA for Children Children’s Hospital of Colorado th Wilmington, DE 19. 54 Treasure Chest Program Aurora, CO 9. 33rd Treasure Chest Program University of Missouri Women's 31. 4th Treasure Chest Program and Children's Hospital Baptist Children's Hospital Ronald McDonald Children's Hospital Columbia, MO Miami, FL (Loyola Medical Center) th th 20. 59 Treasure Chest Program Maywood, IL 10. 57 Treasure Chest Program Mercy Health Children's Hospital th Rainbow Babies and 32. 46 Treasure Chest Program Toledo, OH Children’s Hospital MedStar Georgetown University Hospital th Cleveland, OH 21. 13 Treasure Chest Program Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center th Central DuPage Hospital Washington, D.C. 11. 18 Treasure Chest Program Winfield, IL th Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 33. 17 Treasure Chest Program st Philadelphia, PA 22. 51 Treasure Chest Program St. Christopher's Hospital for Children Northwestern Medicine CDH Philadelphia, PA Diagnostic Imaging Center Winfield, IL Page 4 Treasures Candyland Fundraiser Postponement This year’s 11th Annual Treasuring Our Kids Candyland Fundraiser at the Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park has been rescheduled to Saturday, March 6, 2021 because of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic concerns. If you have already purchased tickets, please rest assured that your ticket(s) will be honored on March 6, 2021. All sponsorships, auctions and raffle prizes will be moved to our new date. If you have any concerns, please call us at 708-687-TOYS (8697). Alsip Dakota Inn Benefit a Tremendous Success The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation was recently awarded $530, $90 in gift cards and additional toys and gifts for teens fighting cancer, all proceeds from the Alsip Dakota Inn’s Toy Drive and Soup Cook-off event. Participants were asked to bring a new toy, gift or a gift card in lieu of their entry fee. This amazingly fun event has raised more than $7,050 for the Treasure Chest Foundation since 2016. Dakota Inn Manager Megan Thatcher said, “We are happy to support the Treasure Chest Foundation and its mission.” Ray Thatcher, Megan’s husband added, “It feels good to help the less fortunate.” Dakota Inn Manager Megan Thatcher (left) and husband Ray Thatcher display the impressive proceeds of their Toy Drive and Soup Cook-off event. Takes the Lead for Kids Fighting Cancer LEADZ Networkers group provided a generous helping hand to kids with cancer by organizing and implementing a fundraiser to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. The hardworking group drew support from more than 80 participants at the Alley Grill and Tap House in Mokena this past January. The event featured raffle prizes, split-the-pot and Super Bowl squares and ultimately raised $3,000 to benefit children fighting cancer. Kathi Peteroccelli of LEADZ Networkers said, “We are more than happy to raise funds for an amazing organization like the Treasure Chest Foundation.” Summer 2020 Page 5 A True Cinderella Story Benefits Children with Cancer With the clock set to strike midnight, attendees of Orland Park Recreation and Parks Department’s Eleventh Annual Cinderella Ball recently made sure that children and teens battling cancer would have something to smile about. The royal ball, attended by more than 200 young children with their parents, provided not only a chance to enjoy food, activities and dancing, but served to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. Those benefits were provided for a fifth consecutive year, thanks to the compassion of Rob and Elise Wehmeier, proprietors of Wehmeier Portraits of Orland Park, who were on hand to create special digital photo memories of the evening. After the festive event drew to a close and Cinderella had finally rushed to her waiting carriage—minus one glass slipper, of course—an impressive $295 and more than 100 toys had been collected to benefit brave young cancer patients nationwide.