The Emilio Nares Foundation helps families navigate through their child’s journey with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Emilio’s Story
When Emilio was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), his parents Richard & Diane Nares, felt their world turned upside down cycling through emotions including fear, promise, desperation, and hope. Despite a relapse, intensive chemotherapy, marrow registry search, and a transplant, the Nares family say they felt lucky. They had family, friends, even strangers reaching out to help them. However, while living at the hospital, it became clear not everyone has the same kind of support.
After Emilio passed away just before his sixth birthday, he passed the torch on to his parents who honored his memory by creating the Emilio Nares Foundation (ENF) to help low-income underserved families meet basic needs, especially transportation. Emilio’s spirit can be felt in the hundreds of young patients ENF helps annually — laughter in the van, a comforting hand during hard times at the hospital, and the smiling eyes of our families. He looks after us all.
Our Patients Are Family
Corporate Partners
ENF is grateful for this year’s foundations, corporations, and people like you who make our work possible.
For more information on how to become a sponsor or corporate partner, please contact Development Director Diana Lopez at Diana@enfhope.org.
Meet our Administrative & Development Team
Elsa Morales-Roth
Executive Director
elsa@enfhope.org
Luz Quiroga
Director of Programs
luz@enfhope.org
Rosa Moreno
Human Resources and Accounting Manager
rosa@enfhope.org
Diana Lopez
Institutional Giving Manager
diana@enfhope.org
Meet our Programs Team
Gaby Perez-Vargas
Family Resource Center Coordinator
gabriela@enfhope.org
Margarita Nuño
Transportation Associate
margarita@enfhope.org
Juan Carlos Flores
San Diego Driver
Manuela Espinoza
Orange County Driver
Blanca Lopez
Orange County Driver
Ruben Acosta
Imperial Valley Driver
Co-Founders and ENF Advocates
Richard & Diane Nares
Board of Directors
Christine Lazott – Chair
Children’s Health Plan of California
Elizabeth Brann – Vice Chair
Paul Hastings, LLP
Andy Zlotnik – Immediate Past Chair
Zlotnik Law
Gregg Wolfson
Local Media San Diego
Victor Wong, MD
Rady Children’s Hospital