Brendan's Idea

Our friend Brendan lives in our little community, and he recently approached me with a fabulous idea.

My name is Brendan Stepuszek and I am 15 years old. After reading an article in the newspaper about the Treasure Chest Foundation, I thought that it would be a very rewarding Eagle Scout Project. Becoming an Eagle Scout is an honor and the highest position one can obtain in the Boy Scouts of America. In order to become an Eagle Scout I must complete 21 merit badges and hold a service project in the community.

Brendan is pictured above with Colleen Kisel, founder of THE TREASURE CHEST FOUNDATION. This organization began locally in 1996, and since then has grown to include 37 locations across 11 states. Donations of toys and gift cards are collected through various fund-raising efforts, and then sent to the pediatric cancer departments of hospitals. There, the gifts provide children/teens undergoing treatment with a "little something" to make their day a bit easier, and in some cases with younger patients, less frightening. (Please click on the link to find out more specific details about this wonderful foundation, including its history and a list of all of the hospitals that benefit from the generosity of donors.)

Brendan has chosen to direct his service project to honor the memories of both Erin and Tyler, whose family also lives in our community.

Please see his flyer with more information below.

Clicking on the image will enlarge it.

Tyler lived with brain cancer for eight months,

and passed away in 2007 at the age of three.

He was treated at Children's Memorial Hospital.

Erin lived for three years with Ewing's sarcoma,

and passed away in 2009 at the age of eighteen.

She was treated first at Loyola University Medical Center,

and then at the University of Chicago.

All three hospitals are named on the website's list of centers that benefit from the donations of generous individuals. From a personal experience ~ Erin often received gift cards when treatment days took a little longer than expected. They were typically $5 cards for a fast-food place, like McDonalds or Wendys, and we'd do a drive-through for some fries and a shake on the way home. She also received cards for Best Buy, iTunes, Starbucks, etc. It helped!

At the time, I didn't even consider what the source of those gift cards was. It was one of those "little details" that someone else took care of. This has been another AH-HAH! & DUH! experience for me, much like the realization that all those units of blood Erin received during transfusions had to come from somewhere and they actually weren't just making them all in the basement of the hospital.
Now I know!

Brendan's efforts are also highlighted in THIS ARTICLE in the local paper.

Please mark your calendars ~

Collection Dates

September 19th - October 1st

For your convenience, if you live in the area the addresses of the locations accepting donations throughout that collection period are as follows ~

La Grange Public Library
(Click on "comments" below for hours - thank you Bridget!)
10 West Cossitt Avenue
La Grange

Park District of La Grange
536 East Avenue
La Grange

St John of the Cross Parish Center
5005 Wolf Road
Western Springs

St Cletus
700 W 55th Street
La Grange

If you live outside of our area and want to participate, you can mail your donation to me at ~

Mary Potts
825 South Stone Avenue
La Grange, IL 60525

(Monetary donations to The Treasure Chest Foundation are gratefully accepted as well.)

Thank you in advance for your generosity

to a cause that will help make the lives

of pediatric cancer patients a little brighter.

And, a very special thank you to Brendan

for choosing to do this service project.

You will make one fine Eagle Scout!