When Richard and Diane Nares lost their young son, Emilio, to leukemia, they honored his memory by creating the Emilio Nares Foundation (ENF) to help low-income and under-resourced children with cancer and their families meet basic needs, especially transportation to medical treatments.

The lack of reliable transportation to medical facilities, some of which are a significant distance away, can be a significant barrier to treatment for families facing childhood cancer. This can lead to missed appointments, delays in treatment, and added stress during an already challenging time. Through a fleet of vehicles and a dedicated team of drivers, the ENF ensures that patients make it to their medical appointments without the added burden of transportation challenges.

With the support of a grant from the Maximus Foundation, the ENF continued its lifesaving work through their Ride with Emilio free transportation program. This program ensures disproportionately affected children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, such as those needing organ transplants and heart conditions, continue to attend life-saving treatment appointments. This service ensures timely access to vital treatments and alleviates the financial strain often associated with transportation expenses. Ride with Emilio has traveled over 1.3 million miles, transporting nearly 5,000 children. This generous grant helped cover the costs of fuel, vehicle maintenance, drivers, and other program costs.

Besides transportation, the ENF offers many free family support programs that provide emotional support and practical assistance. These resources and guidance help families navigate the complexities of childhood cancer and focus on improving their overall quality of life.

The ENF plays a crucial role in improving the lives of under-resourced children with cancer and their families by removing transportation barriers and offering vital support services. This enables families to focus on what matters most—the health and wellbeing of their child. Learn more about the Emilio Nares Foundation and how their free transportation services and family support programs provide hope, assistance, and much-needed relief to those facing the challenges of childhood cancer.

Giving back to the communities we serve

The Maximus Foundation is one of the ways Maximus employees are doing something greater together. Established by the Maximus Board of Directors in 2000, the Maximus Foundation is an independent, employee-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Employee donors pool their contributions together through the Foundation, increasing their community impact by supporting nonprofits that serve the same communities we do. Employee donors double their impact through Maximus’ dollar-for-dollar matching pledge and make their voices heard by nominating and voting for future grantee partners. Learn more at maximus.com/foundation.