The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation recently received a donation of hundreds of toys thanks to a woman who spearheaded a community toy drive in memory of her childhood friends and sisters Cathy and Alison who died of cancer.

Tinley Park resident Patti Rose said, “I wanted to do something to teach my daughter to give back.”

“Seven years ago I spoke to my friend’s mom, Nan Beard, about giving back and she introduced me to the Treasure Chest Foundation, thus I started the ‘Remembering Cathy and Alison’ annual holiday toy drive,” Rose said.

“When you help someone else, it helps you to forget about the stresses in your life,” she said.

The schools and businesses that participated this year included John A. Banes School, Helen Keller School, Virgil I. Grissom Middle School, Christa McAuliffe School,  Millennium Elementary School, St. George School, Andrew High Poms Dance Team and National Honor Society Group, Fernway Park Elementary School, Dunkin Donuts and Republic Bank.

Foundation CEO Colleen Kisel said, “Rose formulated this idea seven years ago when she delivered one van load of toys. Seven years later Patti’s husband Kevin Rose, dropped off five loads of toys making this her best toy drive on record. Kevin and Patti are truly a couple of roses.”

The foundation is a nonprofit organization serving more than 7,600 young cancer patients monthly in 39 hospitals nationwide. Through the program, toys and gift cards are given to children and teens going through cancer treatments to give them something positive to think about.

For more information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, contact Kisel at (708) 633-8699 or visit the Web site www.treasurechest.org.

Last Modified: Jan 3, 2011 10:03AM
Copyright © 2011 — Sun-Times Media, LLC