Federal Express Delivers Smiles for Children and Teens Fighting Cancer

The employees at Federal Express in Yorkville are giving to children and teens fighting cancer by hosting the FedEx Cares Purple Tote Program to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. There are three components involved in the FedEx Cares program, money, volunteering and the purple tote drop.

The FedEx Cares Purple Tote Program is a way for Federal Express Team Members to participate and provide supplies to those in need. Federal Express is a global community. Their goal is to help make the world a better place through in-kind shipping, volunteering their time and expertise, and charitable giving.

When asked about the motivation behind the drive Federal Express Manager Jim Griffin said, “It is an important cause. We’ve been given so much; this is an opportunity to give back.”

Ms. Kisel, Founder of the Treasure Chest Foundation added, “The Treasure Chest Foundation is especially grateful to Federal Express Team for spearheading such a wonderful variety of gifts for the kids we serve. We are blessed to have their support.”

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.

(L-R) Federal Express Manager Jim Griffin along with Federal Express Team members Brittany Abney, Lyanne Revas, Max Campbell, Mike Schessler, Colleen Hogan, Chris Schehlein, Mike Reiland and Mike Giggy display some of the items collected during their FedEx Cares Purple Tote program drive at the Treasure Chest Foundation’s Orland Park warehouse.