12U Bobcats Baseball Team Hit a Grand Slam for Kids with Cancer

The Tinley Park Bobcats hit a grand slam by donating various toys to the Treasure Chest Foundation. The 12u baseball team banded together to collect toys to donate to kids and teens with cancer during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Each toy will be shipped to one of the 66 treasure chests currently supported and supplied by the Treasure Chest Foundation. The Treasure Chest Foundation serves over 16,000 children and teens monthly.

The Tinley Park Bobcats organization chose the Treasure Chest Foundation because they are teaching the children and teens in their organization to, "Work hard on the field, and support their community off the field."

Ryan Gillespie, player on the 12u team said, "My mom explained to us at practice what we were donating toys for and it made me feel really good. A lot of kids probably wish they could play baseball, but can't because they are sick, so it is nice that we can give them a toy to make them feel better."

Treasure Chest Foundation Executive Director Kendra Connor said, “I am immensely grateful to the 12u team at the Tinley Park Bobcats organization for their donation. Teaching the players the importance of supporting their community reenforces the life skills that one can learn from playing team sports. Those young players really stepped up in their donation and they should be proud of that.”

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. The Treasure Chest Foundation accepts donations of new toys, books, and gift cards to help support the mission of providing comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens who have been diagnosed with cancer.

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Kendra Connor at 1-708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s website at www.treasurechest.org.